Here at The Revelator, we love a good shark story.
The problem is, there aren’t all that many good shark stories. According to recent research, sharks and their relatives represent one of the world’s most imperiled groups of species. Of the more than 1,250 known species of sharks, skates, rays and chimeras — collectively known as chondrichthyan fishes — at least a quarter are threatened with extinction.
That’s just what we know so far. About half of all shark species have a conservation status of “data deficient,” meaning we have no idea how well they’re doing or whether they’re at risk.
But that’s why it’s so important to tell stories about sharks. They’re our lens into issues like conservation, ocean protection, overfishing, coastal development, wildlife trafficking and so much more. And as frequently maligned species — Jaws, anyone? — sharks also help us to understand our relationship with predators that may seem scary but don’t really pose much of a threat.
Sharks also give us an opportunity to talk about people — the people living near them, the people harming them, the people who rely on them, and most importantly the experts working to understand and conserve them.
And honestly, sharks are just fascinating. They come in all manner of shapes and sizes; often boast amazing behaviors; serve important roles in their ecosystems; and have wide and varied reproductive strategies — some of which make them more vulnerable to exploitation. Oh, and most of them look pretty cool (although there are a few oddities in the bunch — we’re talking about you, goblin sharks).
So let’s keep talking about sharks — whether it’s during Shark Week or the other 51 weeks of the year.
With that in mind, we’ve collected our best essays and articles about sharks and related conservation issues (and we’ll add to this list as we go along). Check them out below:
Speaking of Shark Week:
Film Fakery: Does Shark Week Harm Conservation Efforts?
Big Questions:
Are We Ready for Shark Conservation to Succeed?
Sharks and Fisheries:
How to Protect Sharks From Overfishing
Florida Anglers Are Targeting Endangered Sharks
Fishing for Fun? It Has a Bigger Environmental Impact Than We Thought
Fins from Protected Shark Species Still Heavily Traded
‘Essential’ But Unprotected: How the United States Fails Its Most Important Fish Habitats
The Informal Blue Economy: East Africa’s Silent Shark Killer
How the United States Must Help Sharks Around the World
Sharks and the Extinction Crisis:
Found But Lost: Newly Discovered Shark May Be Extinct
A Chance to Save the ‘Rhinos of the Sea’
Shark Quest: Are the World’s Most Endangered Rays Living in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea?
What Losing 1 Million Species Means for the Planet — and Humanity
The Extinction Crisis is Here. How do We Keep from Feeling Overwhelmed?
Broader Ocean and Conservation Issues:
The Top 10 Ocean Biodiversity Hotspots to Protect
How Do You Protect a Species You Can’t See?
Here’s Our Best Opportunity to Save the Oceans — and Ourselves
Coral in Crisis: Can Replanting Efforts Halt Reefs’ Death Spiral?
What Are the Biggest Challenges for Saving the Oceans?
Empowering Communities to Save the Ocean
Something Fishy: Toxic Plastic Pollution Is Traveling Up the Food Chain
Trump’s Offshore Oil Plan: Like Nothing the Country Has Ever Seen
