Sharks are believed to have been in existence before the dinosaurs and are the world’s most awesome fish. There are over 400 species of sharks found all over the world and they vary widely in physical appearance, distribution, diet and habits.

A creature of many contradictions, sharks have no bones, only cartilage and all sharks are carnivores. Sharks have several rows of sharp teeth but they do not chew their food, they gulp it down instead. The shark’s streamlined body allows them to glide through the water and for more than 400 million years they have dominated the oceans. They are undeniably magnificent and impressive, yet widely feared as predatory eating machines that do not discriminate between fish and humans. As a result, sharks have earned an undeserved reputation as being dangerous creatures worthy of contempt. Today, these fascinating creatures are threatened by overfishing and pollution, making them the most valuable and vulnerable animals in the sea.

Sharks are thought to be relatively intelligent and can learn to adopt different behaviors as well as the ability to recognize people and objects. Shark attacks are an unfortunate fact of life and attacks on people swimming in shallow waters usually result in severe injuries or death. Unfortunately, shark fins have also become some of the most valuable items taken from the sea and massive consumer demand for the fins and other shark related products have created an industry motivated by high profits. The combination of greed and a taste for the exotic has put sharks on the path toward rapid extinction.

Pound for pound, shark fins have become one of the world’s most valuable commodities with figures of up to $300 per pound not uncommon. It is easy to see the lure of high profits when a single dorsal fin from a whale shark can sell for over $15,000. Today, more than 125 countries around the world trade in shark products contributing to a staggering 800,000 metric tons of shark taken from the oceans per year. At that rate, the indiscriminate fishing techniques are killing off sharks faster than they can reproduce and by 2020, many species could become extinct forever.

Sharks are some of the most fascinating and humbling creatures in the ocean to study, but until more consumers are informed and educated to change their present habits and stop buying shark meat and fins, the trade in this threatened species will likely continue unabated.