Are Sharks Becoming Extinct?

Coming to the rescue of the ocean's most fearsome predator

Sharks have long been regarded as terrors of the deep. The mere sight of that telltale dorsal fin cleaving the water's surface instantly sends swimmers racing for the shore (with strains of the ominous two-tone theme from Jaws pounding in their heads). But in recent years these perilous predators have become a popular American entree. Commercial shark fishing has begun to threaten several species, including the thresher, mako and hammerhead. "At this point, we're talking about a marked decline," says Charles Manire, a shark researcher at the University of Miami. "But if it doesn't stop, we're going to be talking about...

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