Sharks in perilous state: IUCN

In News

The extinction threats to more than 420 sharks and related species were announced this week in the latest Red List analyses from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

About

• IUCN has included for the first time, the presumed extinction of one shark species—the Lost Shark Carcharhinus obsoletus—which was only described from museum specimens last year.
• Others at risk include four species each of hammerhead and angel sharks, all of which are either Endangered or Critically Endangered, making them among the world’s most threatened shark families.
• The overharvesting of sharks for their meat is known to be a significant extinction threat.
• During the COVID pandemic, catches of sharks and rays appear to have risen, although the levels of monitoring have fallen due to social distancing requirements.
• Better data collection and its reporting seem to be the possible solution to prevent this extinction.

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TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

IUCN Red List of Endangered Species

Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species.

• The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive.
• It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.
• The IUCN Red List also re-assesses the status of some existing species.

The IUCN Red List is crucial not only for helping to identify those species needing targeted recovery efforts, but also for focusing the conservation agenda by identifying the key sites and habitats that need to be protected. Ultimately, The IUCN Red List helps to guide and inform future conservation and funding priorities.