Program Description
Event Description
Celebrate Shark Week with paper sharks and conservation!
Each year, at least 63 million and as many as 273 million sharks are killed in the world’s commercial fisheries, many solely for their fins, which are used in shark fin soup. More than 30 percent of the shark species and their relatives assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are threatened with extinction, placing them among the world’s most endangered vertebrates. Tragically, scientists are predicting that vulnerable shark populations could collapse within the next decade.
Solving this problem requires a global, coordinated effort to alter the laws and regulations that govern international and national fishing. Improved policies and trade regulations can fundamentally change the commercial fishing paradigm and incentivize sustainable fishing at the local, national and international levels. But the first step is awareness. So use your paper sharks to start the conversation with others or as a catalyst to learn more about the conservation efforts to save these essential creatures.