Sharks have roamed the oceans for over 400 million years, surviving mass extinctions and evolving into some of the most formidable predators in the world. However, in recent decades, human activities have driven many shark species to the brink of extinction. These are twelve shark species that are on the brink of extinction.
1. Ganges Shark
The Ganges Shark has sadly been listed as critically endangered. This rare species can be found in tropical rivers and estuaries, particularly in the Ganges, Hooghly, and Brahmaputra river systems in India and Bangladesh. It rarely ventures into marine waters. The biggest dangers it faces include fishing pressure from local fisheries using gillnets and longlines, as well as habitat degradation caused by pollution, dam construction, and reduced water flow due to irrigation and hydroelectric projects.
2. Daggernose Shark
The Daggernose Shark has also been listed as critically endangered and can be found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries of northeastern South America, including Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. This species thrives in turbid, sediment-rich environments, which are increasingly threatened by human activity. The biggest threats to this species are unregulated fishing and habitat loss.
3. Oceanic Whitetip Shark
The Oceanic Whitetip Shark is critically endangered and is experiencing drastic population declines. This species can be found in surface waters of tropical and subtropical oceans, where it is an essential predator in the marine ecosystem. However, it is heavily impacted by overfishing due to its high demand in the shark fin trade, as well as bycatch in tuna and swordfish fisheries.
4. Scalloped Hammerhead
The scalloped hammerhead is a critically endangered shark that can be found in coastal and semi-pelagic waters worldwide, often near coral reefs, continental shelves, and islands. Sadly, this species is one of the most heavily targeted species in the shark fin trade, which has led to significant population declines. It also often falls victim to bycatch in commercial fishing operations.
5. Short-tail Nurse Shark
The Short-tail Nurse Shark has been listed as vulnerable, though some sources classify it as critically endangered due to its declining population. This is a bottom-dwelling species that prefers coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, particularly around Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat destruction because coral reefs are being damaged by climate change, pollution, and coastal development. It is also often caught by fisheries, either as bycatch or for human consumption.
6. Borneo Shark
The Borneo Shark is one of the rarest shark species in the world. It is critically endangered and can only be found in the coastal waters of Borneo, Malaysia. Little is known about this species because of its scarcity, but scientists believe it faces severe threats from overfishing and habitat degradation. It is often caught unintentionally, and coastal pollution and the destruction of mangroves have led to a decrease in suitable habitats for the Borneo Shark.
7. Pondicherry Shark
The Pondicherry Shark was once believed to be extinct but was rediscovered in the 2010s. It remains critically endangered. It is a rare species that can be found in coastal and estuarine waters of the Indo-Pacific, including India, Sri Lanka, and possibly Thailand. The biggest threat to its survival is overfishing, as it has been heavily exploited for its meat and fins. It has also been harmed by habitat loss due to pollution and coastal development.
8. Sand Tiger Shark
The Sand Tiger Shark is also vulnerable and can be found in coastal waters worldwide. It prefers to stay in sandy-bottomed areas, reefs, and shipwrecks. Unfortunately, it is heavily impacted by overfishing, as it is targeted for meat, fins, and the aquarium trade. It is also threatened by habitat destruction due to pollution and climate change.
9. Great Hammerhead
The Great Hammerhead, which is the largest of all hammerhead sharks, is critically endangered. It lives in coastal and semi-pelagic waters worldwide and plays an important role in marine ecosystems. It is a primary target in the shark fin trade, which has led to massive population declines. It is also frequently caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries.
10. Angel Shark
The Angel Shark used to be quite common in European waters, but it is now classified as critically endangered because of decades of overfishing. This species prefers coastal areas of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, where it buries itself in sandy seabeds to ambush prey. It has suffered from bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries, and its habitat is being destroyed by coastal development.
11. Whitefin Swellshark
The Whitefin Swellshark, which is native to the deep waters off Australia’s south and east coasts, has been listed as critically endangered. It is often caught as bycatch in trawl fisheries. It also suffers due to climate change, which affects its deep-sea habitat.
12. Irrawaddy River Shark
The Irrawaddy River Shark is one of the most mysterious shark species and is a critically endangered river shark. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in Southeast Asia, including the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and parts of Thailand. It is threatened by overfishing and habitat loss due to pollution, dam construction, and reduced water flow.
