Shark Conservation

As one of the top ocean predators, sharks play an important role in the food web and help ensure balance in the ocean’s ecosystem. With increased demand and exploitation rates for some shark species and shark products, concern has steadily grown regarding the status of many shark stocks and their exploitation in global fisheries.

Relative to other marine fish, sharks are characterized by relatively slow growth, late sexual maturity, and a small number of young per brood. These biological factors make many shark species vulnerable to overfishing. Sharks are captured in directed fisheries and also as bycatch in other non-directed fisheries. Many shark species have been over-exploited because their fins are highly valued for shark fin soup. Globally, there is a general lack of data reporting on the catch of sharks, particularly species-specific data. For these reasons, sharks present many challenges for fisheries conservation and management.

NOAA Fisheries Role in Shark Conservation

Despite these challenges, we are committed to sustainable shark management. We manage commercial and recreational shark fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean and work with three regional fishery management councils to conserve and sustainably manage sharks in the Pacific Ocean. By conducting research, assessing stocks, working with U.S. fishermen, and implementing restrictions on shark harvests, we have made significant progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding overfished stocks for long-term sustainability.

The following species are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act:  

• Argentine angelshark

• Common angelshark

• Sawback angelshark

• Smoothback angelshark

• Spiny angelshark

• Brazilian guitarfish

• Dwarf sawfish

• Green sawfish

• Largetooth sawfish

• Narrow sawfish

• Smalltooth sawfish (U.S. and non-U.S. portion of range)

• Daggernose shark

• Scalloped hammerhead shark (Eastern Atlantic)

• Scalloped hammerhead shark (Eastern Pacific)

• Striped smoothhound shark

The following species are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act:

• Blackchin guitarfish

• Common guitarfish

• Narrownose smoothhound shark

• Oceanic Whitetip Shark

• Scalloped hammerhead shark (Central and Southwest Atlantic)

• Scalloped hammerhead shark (Indo-West Pacific)

We have management measures for overfished shark species to rebuild their stocks to a sustainable level. The United States also supports and implements the landing of sharks with their fins naturally attached. This policy enables the collection of species-specific information needed for shark management and conservation, and enhances the ability to enforce existing shark regulations domestically.

Learn more about the Shark Conservation Act

International Shark Conservation

The United States continues to be a leader in promoting the global conservation and management of sharks. We work with regional fisheries management organizations and other international bodies for global shark conservation and management measures. We also work internationally to promote our "fins naturally attached" policy overseas and provide technical support for other countries’ shark conservation efforts. Support activities include shark identification training and data collection workshops. We also collaborate with other countries on research aimed at achieving science-based management measures and conservation of sharks in our global ocean.

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals—also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention— aims to conserve terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their range. It is an intergovernmental treaty, backed by the United Nations Environment Programme, concerned with the conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. The United States is not a CMS Party, but it has signed the memorandum of understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks.

Protections Under CITES

Sharks were first included in Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2003 after the Conference of the Parties to CITES decided to include the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and whale shark (Rhincodon typus). Species included in Appendix II are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade in them is controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

Since then, a number of other shark and ray species have been added to Appendix II including, porbeagle shark, scalloped, great, smooth, and hammerhead shark, oceanic whitetip shark, thresher shark, silky shark, and all manta and devil rays. At the 2019 Conference of the Parties, shortfin and longfin mako shark, giant guitarfish, and wedgefishes were added to Appendix II. All species of sawfishes are in Appendix I which prohibits any commercial trade.

Learn more about CITES-listed sharks and rays

More Information

• U.S. National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (PDF, 90 pages)

• 2014 Report on the Implementation of the U.S. National Plan of Action (PDF, 29 pages)

• Shark Fin ID Guide (NW Atlantic Ocean) (PDF, 57 pages)

• Shark and Ray Conservation in West Africa

• Shark Finning Reports to Congress

• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

• International Affairs

• Pacific Fishery Management Council

• Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

• North Pacific Fishery Management Council

For questions about international shark conservation, please contact Cheri McCarty, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection—cheri.mccarty@noaa.gov.