March, 2020 – Halifax, Canada

Groundbreaking Paper Reveals Alarming Statistics in Global Shark Mortality:
"100 Million Sharks Killed Each Year"

[Nova Scotia, Canada] — A seminal paper titled "Global Catches, Exploitation Rates, and Rebuilding Options for Sharks" has been published, shedding light on the urgent need for enhanced conservation and management of shark populations worldwide. Coined as the "100 million sharks killed each year" project, this paper presents startling statistics on shark mortality and highlights the critical importance of urgent actions needed to lower the targeted and accidental catch of sharks around the world.

Sharks, crucial components of marine ecosystems, face severe threats due to overfishing, making conservation efforts paramount. The paper reveals that catch reports are incomplete, and that mortality estimates have been unavailable for the shark population as a whole. However, by combining various data sources, the researchers estimate the global catch and mortality of sharks at 1.44 million metric tons for the year 2000 and only slightly less in 2010 (1.41 million tons).

"These numbers are alarming and underscore the dire need for immediate action to conserve and protect shark populations," said Dr. Christine Ward-Paige, CEO at eOceans and co-author on the paper. "The unsustainable mortality rate has severe implications for marine ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to drastically reduce global shark mortality."

The paper delves into the consequences of unsustainable catch and mortality rates on marine ecosystems, emphasizing the necessity to rebuild depleted populations and restore marine ecosystems with functional top predators. The study advocates for stringent measures to significantly reduce global shark mortality and facilitate the recovery of shark populations.

"The findings from this paper provide a clear directive for conservation strategies aimed at saving sharks and preserving marine ecosystems," added Ward-Paige. "The '100 million sharks killed each year' project serves as a wake-up call for concerted efforts in shark conservation and sustainable fishing practices."

The "Global Catches, Exploitation Rates, and Rebuilding Options for Sharks" paper stands as a pivotal publication, compelling action and dialogue in the global community to address the critical issue of unsustainable shark mortality.

For media inquiries or further information about the paper, please contact:

Dr. Christine Ward-Paige, CEO
eOceans
www.eOceans.co
chris@eOceans.co