- Overfishing: Humans kill sharks for their meat, fins, and other body parts, which can lead to population declines and ecosystem imbalances.
- Bycatch: Sharks can also be accidentally killed in fishing nets intended for other species, such as tuna or swordfish.
- Habitat destruction: The destruction of shark habitats, such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, can reduce their food sources and shelter opportunities, making them more vulnerable to predators.
- Pollution: The release of toxins into the marine environment can contaminate sharks' food sources and cause illnesses or death.
- Climate change: Warming ocean temperatures and changing weather patterns can disrupt shark habitats and food sources.
- Shark finning: Shark finning is the act of cutting off a shark's fins and then throwing the body back into the water. This practice is often fatal to the shark and is illegal in many countries.
All these activities threaten sharks and contribute to their decline in the ocean.