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Sharks and rays have gracefully glided through the ocean for millions of years, playing a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
These remarkable creatures are often apex predators, keeping fish populations in check and ensuring the health of coral reefs. However, due to overfishing, habitat loss, climate change and pollution, over a third of all shark and ray species face extinction.
At WWF, we recognize the urgency of protecting these irreplaceable creatures. Sharks and rays are ecologically important, vulnerable and in need of immediate action.
OVERFISHING
Overfishing is the biggest threat to sharks and rays globally, with many species caught unintentionally as bycatch or targeted for their fins. This excessive fishing pressure disrupts the natural balance of the ocean and prevents populations from replenishing themselves.Sharks and rays are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they reproduce slower than many commercially fished species. With fewer young born, it takes longer for populations to recover from overfishing pressure.
The decline of sharks and rays due to overfishing disrupts entire marine ecosystems. As predators, these creatures play a vital role in keeping fish populations in check and maintaining healthy coral reefs. Their loss can have cascading effects throughout the ocean food web.
HABITAT LOSS
Habitat loss is a major threat to sharks and rays, as it disrupts their breeding, feeding, and nursery grounds. Coastal development, pollution, and loss of coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves all contribute to habitat degradation, leaving sharks and rays with fewer safe spaces to live and reproduce.
Loss of critical habitats can force sharks and rays to venture into unfamiliar or unsuitable areas, making them more vulnerable to predators and human activities like accidental bycatch. This increased exposure to danger further threatens their already declining populations.
Healthy habitats are essential for young sharks and rays to grow and mature. When these crucial areas are destroyed, it hinders their development and reduces their chances of survival to adulthood, impacting the overall health of the population.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION
Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change are disrupting the migration patterns and breeding cycles of sharks and rays. This can lead to difficulty finding food and mates, ultimately impacting their survival and reproductive success.Greenhouse gas emissions also contribute to ocean acidification, which harms the development and survival of young sharks and rays. Acidic water dissolves the calcium carbonate needed for their skeletons and teeth, making them more vulnerable to predators and reducing their chances of reaching adulthood.
Marine pollution, including plastic debris, ghost gear and chemical contaminants, poses a significant threat to sharks and rays. They can become entangled in plastic waste or ingest harmful chemicals, leading to injuries, starvation, and even death.
Sharks and rays face a multitude of threats, but WWF is a leading voice in their defense. Here's how we're making a difference for these vital ocean inhabitants:
Shaping global policy: WWF actively advocates for international agreements that benefit sharks and rays. We played a crucial role in finalizing the High Seas Treaty that includes provisions for marine protected areas. When ratified and fully implemented, provisions under the treaty can be a lifeline for vulnerable shark and ray populations.
Curbing unsustainable trade: Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 90% of all internationally traded shark and ray species can now only be traded if their stocks are not endangered as a result.
Beyond the milestones: WWF's impact extends beyond these major milestones. Our advocacy for sustainable fishing practices likely contributes to reduced overfishing of sharks and rays in various areas. We also raise public awareness about the importance of these creatures, igniting passion and support for conservation efforts. Furthermore, WWF fosters collaboration among governments, local communities, and other conservation organizations, creating a united front to protect sharks and rays.
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. Their white spotted colouration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish, and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.
The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, but could be as large as 20m. Females give birth to live young but this has never been observed. Where pupping occurs and where the youngest animals situate remains a mystery, as they are very rarely found. Adults are often found feeding at the surface, but may dive to 1000m. Whale sharks are protected from fishing in many countries these days, but are in decline in some areas. This species is assessed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus), with its rounded pectoral and dorsal fin and white tips, is a top predator of the open tropical oceans. It mostly feeds on bony fishes, and squid, but will also eat turtles, stingrays and even seabirds.
Oceanic whitetip sharks grow to around 3.5m, and had been the most abundant sharks in tropical oceans. However, they are inquisitive and easy to catch, and their large fins fetch a high price for shark fin soup. Populations have plummeted by over 90% in some offshore areas of the Pacific and Atlantic due to overfishing by industrial fishing fleets. While there are some bans on catching oceanic whitetips on the high seas, far more needs to be done. Oceanic whitetip sharks are assessed as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) are often found in caves and resting on the seabed by day, becoming more active at night. Widespread on reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, these reef sharks occur from the surface to at least 300m depth.
This species typically searches crevices by night looking for the octopus, crustaceans and reef fishes that it feeds on. Whitetip reef sharks reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years, and grow to around 1.6m. They only give birth to one to five young per litter, and while not valued for their fins or meat, are easily caught. Whitetip reef sharks are assessed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
A once common shark on coral reefs in the Coral Triangle, Central Pacific and West Indian Ocean. A strong swimming species that likes areas with high currents, and well known to divers. The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) feeds mostly on bony reef fishes, and also octopus, squid and crustaceans.
The maximum size of grey reef sharks is around 2.5m, with females being sexually mature at about half that length. They can live to 25 years and give birth to one to six young, after a gestation period lasting around one year. Grey reef sharks are vulnerable to fishing and have become very scarce across large areas of reefs, with heavy fishing pressure in some countries. Once common, grey reef sharks are assessed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
One of the largest and most distinctive predatory sharks, growing to at least 5.5m. Tagged tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) have undertaken long and often unpredictable migrations. This top predator occurs along the coasts of all the world’s tropical seas. While found on reefs, this species also visits estuaries and other habitats in search of food. Prey includes other sharks, rays, turtles, bony fishes, seabirds and marine mammals, live or dead.
Tiger sharks mature at 7-10 years and females give birth to 10-80 live young every two years or so. While not yet threatened with extinction, the fins of tiger sharks have a high value, and they are easy to catch. Tiger sharks have been assessed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Giant manta rays (Mobula birostris) are impressive, graceful creatures, and the largest rays on the planet. Unlike many other rays, they do not lie on the seabed, but are adapted to swim continuously. They feed on plankton, undertake migrations across the open ocean, and are widely distributed. In certain coastlines, giant manta rays are predictable seasonal visitors, arriving to be cleaned by reef fishes, or aggregating in large numbers to feed or mate.
Areas where manta rays are predictably found can support dive tourism. While manta rays are fully protected in many countries, they are hunted in others for their large gill rakers, which are sold dried in southern China as a health tonic. As sub-populations often have less than 1,000 individuals, and females only produce one young per season, giant manta rays are extremely vulnerable to overfishing. Manta rays have never been observed giving birth, and only very rarely, mating. They are assessed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) are an uncommon but distinctive species of ray occurring in tropical waters from East Africa to Australia and Japan. They are found along coastlines and on offshore reefs to depths of around 100m. Bowmouth guitarfish feed on crabs and large shellfish, which they often eat whole.
This species is one of the largest guitarfishes, reaching 2.7m in length. The reproductive biology of females is poorly understood, while males reach sexual maturity when they reach 1.5 to 1.75m in length. Bowmouth guitarfish are mostly caught as bycatch, sometimes by bottom trawlers. There are also targeted fisheries in some Southeast Asian countries as the fins fetch high prices in the shark fin trade. The meat may also be locally consummed. Bowmouth guitarfish are assessed as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Vulnerable Species.
This species (Taeniurops meyeni) is one of the largest stingrays found on tropical coral and rocky reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and Red Sea. Blotched fantail rays are well known to recreational divers, and while normally found by itself, aggregations do form, probably for mating.
The largest blotched fantail rays reach 1.8m across the disc, and females give birth to live young already 30cm in disc size. The age of sexual reproduction and numbers of young produced by females is not known. While not targeted by fishers, this species does get caught by hook and line, gill net and trawl fisheries, and can be seen being sold for meat in Southeast Asian wet markets. Blotched fantail rays are assessed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
