Sharks are cartilaginous fish belonging to the group Selachii, characterized by a ribless endoskeleton, dermal denticles, multiple gill slits, and unfused pectoral fins. The term "shark" can informally encompass extinct shark-like chondrichthyans. Shark-like chondrichthyans existed as far back as the Devonian Period, while confirmed modern sharks (Selachii) appeared around 200 million years ago in the Early Jurassic. Agaleus is the oldest known member, though some records suggest true sharks existed in the Permian period.
The 50th anniversary of 'Jaws' sparks renewed interest in shark research and its impact on summer blockbusters. Scientists continue to study shark mysteries, while 'Jaws' remains a top-ranked summer film.
The Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 contributed to the perception of sharks as dangerous animals.
In 1930, Homer W. Smith's research indicated that sharks' urine lacks sufficient sodium to prevent hypernatremia, suggesting an additional salt secretion mechanism.
Between 1950 and 2008, 352 tiger sharks and 577 great white sharks were killed in the nets in New South Wales.
In 1960, the shark rectal gland, located at the end of the intestine and responsible for chloride secretion, was discovered at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Salsbury Cove, Maine.
From 1962 to the present, the government of Queensland has targeted and killed sharks in large numbers by using drum lines, under a "shark control" program.
Since 1970, shark populations have been reduced by 71%, mostly from overfishing and mutilating practice such as shark finning.
In 1991, South Africa became the first country in the world to declare Great White sharks a legally protected species.
During the four-year period from 1996 to 2000, an estimated 26 to 73 million sharks were killed and traded annually in commercial markets.
From 1996 to 2000, an estimated 38 million sharks had been killed per year for harvesting shark fins.
Estimated shark finning yields were 1.44 million metric tons in 2000, translating to roughly 100 million sharks killed that year.
From 1996 to 2000, an estimated 38 million sharks had been killed per year for harvesting shark fins.
In 2000, the United States Congress passed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act intending to ban the practice of shark finning while at sea.
Between 2001 and 2006, the average number of fatalities worldwide per year from unprovoked shark attacks was 4.3.
From 2001 to 2018, a total of 10,480 sharks were killed on lethal drum lines in Queensland, including in the Great Barrier Reef.
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.
In September 2004, the Monterey Bay Aquarium successfully kept a young female great white shark for 198 days before releasing her, marking the first time a great white shark was held in captivity for an extended period.
TRAFFIC estimates that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014.
In 2006, the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) investigated 96 alleged shark attacks, confirming 62 as unprovoked and 16 as provoked.
TRAFFIC estimates that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014.
The 2007 documentary Sharkwater exposed how sharks are being hunted to extinction.
Between 1950 and 2008, a total of 15,135 marine animals were killed in the nets in New South Wales, including dolphins, whales, turtles, dugongs, and critically endangered grey nurse sharks.
In 2008, a Federal Appeals Court ruled that a loophole in the law allowed non-fishing vessels to purchase shark fins from fishing vessels while on the high seas.
In 2008, it was estimated that nearly 100 million sharks were being killed by people every year, due to commercial and recreational fishing.
In 2009, shark fins sell for about $300/lb in black markets.
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.
In March 2010, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks was concluded and came into effect under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
In December 2010, seeking to close the loophole, the Shark Conservation Act was passed by Congress.
Estimated shark finning yields were 1.41 million metric tons in 2010, translating to roughly 97 million sharks killed that year.
In 2010, Greenpeace International added the school shark, shortfin mako shark, mackerel shark, tiger shark and spiny dogfish to its seafood red list, a list of common supermarket fish that are often sourced from unsustainable fisheries.
In 2010, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to prohibit the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins.
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.
In January 2011, the Shark Conservation Act was signed into law.
TRAFFIC estimates that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014.
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.
In June 2013, the European Union amended its shark finning ban to close remaining loopholes.
In July 2013, New York state, a major market and entry point for shark fins, banned the shark fin trade joining seven other states of the United States and the three Pacific U.S. territories in providing legal protection to sharks.
In 2014, a shark cull in Western Australia killed dozens of sharks (mostly tiger sharks) using drum lines, until it was cancelled after public protests and a decision by the Western Australia EPA.
TRAFFIC estimates that over 14,000 tonnes of shark fins were exported into Singapore between 2005–2007 and 2012–2014.
In 2016, a great white shark was captured on video for the first time in a state researchers believed was sleep swimming, showcasing the ability of sharks to swim while sleeping.
In March 2017, the "imminent threat" policy in Western Australia, which allowed sharks that "threatened" humans to be shot and killed, was cancelled.
In August 2018, the Western Australia government announced a plan to re-introduce drum lines, this time using "SMART" drum lines.
From 1962 to 2018, roughly 50,000 sharks were killed by Queensland authorities.
As of January 16, 2019, 12 states in the United States along with 3 U.S. territories have passed laws against the sale or possession of shark fins.
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.
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.
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.
In 2021, it was estimated that the population of oceanic sharks and rays had dropped by 71% over the previous half-century.
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