History of Shark in Timeline
Sharks are cartilaginous fish belonging to the Selachii division, characterized by features like a ribless endoskeleton, dermal denticles, multiple gill slits, and unfused pectoral fins. They are closely related to Batoidea (rays). The term "shark" can also informally include extinct Chondrichthyes with shark-like features. While shark-like chondrichthyans appeared in the Devonian period, the oldest confirmed modern sharks date back to the Early Jurassic, around 200 million years ago, with possible true shark records extending back to the Permian period.
1916: Jersey Shore shark attacks
The Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, along with fictional works like the Jaws film series, contributed to the perception of sharks as dangerous animals.
1930: Discovery of salt secretion mechanism in sharks
In 1930, Homer W. Smith's research indicated that sharks' urine lacks sufficient sodium for hypernatremia prevention, suggesting an additional salt secretion mechanism.
1950: Shark net program in New South Wales
The government of New South Wales has a program that deliberately kills sharks using nets, beginning in 1950.
1960: Discovery of the rectal gland
In 1960, the "rectal gland", a salt gland located at the end of the intestine, was discovered to be responsible for the secretion of chlorides.
1962: Queensland's shark control program begins
Starting in 1962, the government of Queensland has been targeting and killing sharks in large numbers by using drum lines, under a "shark control" program.
1970: Shark populations decline
Since 1970, shark populations have been reduced by 71%, mostly from overfishing and mutilating practice such as shark finning.
1991: South Africa protects Great White sharks
In 1991, South Africa became the first country in the world to declare Great White sharks a legally protected species.
1996: Estimated shark deaths in commercial markets
During a four-year period from 1996 to 2000, an estimated 26 to 73 million sharks were killed and traded annually in commercial markets.
1996: Estimated shark deaths for shark fins
From 1996 to 2000, an estimated 38 million sharks had been killed per year for harvesting shark fins.
2000: Shark finning estimates for 2000
For 2000, shark finning yields were estimated at 1.44 million metric tons, translating to approximately 100 million sharks killed annually.
2000: Estimated shark deaths for shark fins
From 1996 to 2000, an estimated 38 million sharks had been killed per year for harvesting shark fins.
2000: Shark Finning Prohibition Act passed
In 2000, the United States Congress passed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act.
2001: Shark attack fatalities statistics
From 2001 to 2006, the average number of fatalities worldwide per year from unprovoked shark attacks was 4.3.
2001: Sharks killed on lethal drum lines
From 2001 to 2018, a total of 10,480 sharks were killed on lethal drum lines in Queensland, including in the Great Barrier Reef.
2003: EU introduces shark finning ban
In 2003, the European Union introduced a general shark finning ban for all vessels of all nationalities in Union waters and for all vessels flying a flag of one of its member states.
September 2004: Great white shark successfully held in captivity
In September 2004, the Monterey Bay Aquarium successfully kept a young female great white shark for 198 days before releasing her.
2005: Shark fin exports into Singapore
Between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014, it is estimated by TRAFFIC that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore.
2006: ISAF investigation into shark attacks
In 2006, the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) investigated 96 alleged shark attacks, confirming 62 as unprovoked and 16 as provoked.
2007: Shark fin exports into Singapore
Between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014, it is estimated by TRAFFIC that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore.
2007: Sharkwater documentary released
The 2007 documentary Sharkwater exposed how sharks are being hunted to extinction.
2008: Marine animals killed in nets
Between 1950 and 2008, 352 tiger sharks and 577 great white sharks were killed in the nets in New South Wales. Also a total of 15,135 marine animals were killed in the nets, including dolphins, whales, turtles, dugongs, and critically endangered grey nurse sharks.
2008: Loophole found in Shark Finning Prohibition Act
In 2008, a Federal Appeals Court ruled that a loophole in the Shark Finning Prohibition Act allowed non-fishing vessels to purchase shark fins from fishing vessels while on the high seas.
2008: Estimated shark deaths by humans
In 2008, it was estimated that nearly 100 million sharks were being killed by people every year due to commercial and recreational fishing.
2009: Shark fin prices in black markets
In 2009, shark fins sold for about $300/lb in black markets.
2009: IUCN Red List names endangered shark species
In 2009, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's IUCN Red List of Endangered Species named 64 species, one-third of all oceanic shark species, as being at risk of extinction due to fishing and shark finning.
March 2010: Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks
Under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks was concluded and came into effect in March 2010.
December 2010: Shark Conservation Act passed by Congress
In December 2010, the Shark Conservation Act was passed by Congress.
2010: Greenpeace adds sharks to seafood red list
In 2010, Greenpeace International added the school shark, shortfin mako shark, mackerel shark, tiger shark and spiny dogfish to its seafood red list.
2010: Hawaii bans shark fin trade
In 2010, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to prohibit the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins.
2010: Shark finning estimates for 2010
In 2010, shark finning yields were estimated at 1.41 million metric tons, resulting in the death of approximately 97 million sharks annually.
2010: CITES rejects proposals to regulate shark trade
In 2010, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) rejected proposals from the United States and Palau that would have required countries to strictly regulate trade in several species of scalloped hammerhead, oceanic whitetip and spiny dogfish sharks.
January 2011: Shark Conservation Act signed into law
In January 2011, the Shark Conservation Act was signed into law.
2012: Shark fin exports into Singapore
Between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014, it is estimated by TRAFFIC that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore.
March 2013: Endangered sharks added to CITES Appendix 2
In March 2013, three endangered commercially valuable sharks, the hammerheads, the oceanic whitetip and porbeagle were added to Appendix 2 of CITES, bringing shark fishing and commerce of these species under licensing and regulation.
June 2013: Amendment to EU shark finning ban
The 2003 prohibition was amended in June 2013 to close remaining loopholes.
July 2013: New York bans shark fin trade
In July 2013, New York state banned the shark fin trade, joining other states and territories in providing legal protection to sharks.
2014: Shark fin exports into Singapore
Between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014, it is estimated by TRAFFIC that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore.
2014: Shark cull in Western Australia
In 2014, a shark cull in Western Australia killed dozens of sharks, primarily tiger sharks, using drum lines until public protests and a decision by the Western Australia EPA led to its cancellation.
2016: Great white shark filmed sleep swimming
In 2016, a great white shark was captured on video in a state believed by researchers to be sleep swimming.
March 2017: Cancellation of 'imminent threat' policy in Western Australia
In March 2017, the "imminent threat" policy in Western Australia, which allowed for the killing of sharks that "threatened" humans, was cancelled.
August 2018: Re-introduction of drum lines in Western Australia
In August 2018, the Western Australia government announced plans to re-introduce drum lines, but this time as "SMART" drum lines.
2018: Number of sharks killed by Queensland authorities
From 1962 to 2018, roughly 50,000 sharks were killed by Queensland authorities.
January 16, 2019: US states pass laws against shark fin trade
As of January 16, 2019, 12 states in the United States (Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, California, Illinois, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Rhode Island, Washington, New York and Texas) along with 3 U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands) have passed laws against the sale or possession of shark fins.
April 2020: Origins of shark fins traced using DNA
In April 2020 researchers reported to have traced the origins of shark fins of endangered hammerhead sharks from a retail market in Hong Kong back to their source populations and therefore the approximate locations where the sharks were first caught using DNA analysis.
July 2020: Global survey of reef shark conservation status
In July 2020 scientists reported results of a survey of 371 reefs in 58 nations estimating the conservation status of reef sharks globally. No sharks have been observed on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs and shark depletion was strongly associated with both socio-economic conditions and conservation measures.
2021: Global decline in oceanic sharks and rays
According to a 2021 study in Nature, overfishing has resulted in a 71% global decline in the number of oceanic sharks and rays over the preceding 50 years.
2021: Decline in oceanic shark and ray populations
In 2021, it was estimated that the population of oceanic sharks and rays had dropped by 71% over the previous half-century.
