Sharks are a group of fish in the flying fish family characterized by skeletons, 5 to 7 gill slits on either side of the head, and unfused pectoral fins. Modern sharks are classified in the genus Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to rays. However, the term “shark” has also been (incorrectly) used to refer to the absolute members of the subclass Elasmobranchii, which are technically outside the subfamily Selachimorpha. Annotated examples of incorrect taxonomy include Cladoselache, Xenacanthus, and many other members of the class Chondrichthyes such as the holocephalid eugenedontidans.
Source: National Geographic
With fossil records dating back 400 million years, sharks have outlived dinosaurs and many other life forms existing on earth. There are more than 1,000 species of sharks and rays, with new species being discovered every year.
These majestic top predators are essential to the natural order of marine ecosystems that currently face the most serious threat from overfishing. Many species are threatened with extinction, with some families of rays such as sawfish being endangered. While sharks and rays have been an irreplaceable resource for coastal communities in developing countries for centuries, this unique balance is in danger of being lost forever.
With our oceans severely degraded, shark recovery is key to improving the resilience of these waters to climate change. While sharks’ diverse species numbers add complexity to our conservation efforts, the declining numbers of these amazing creatures are due to overfishing and the need for fins and fins. Their meat increases the urgency of the task. Through our multi-pronged strategies and guided by the Global Priors for Shark and Rays Conservation – Strategy 2015-2025, we strive to restore balance between humans and sharks
