Many shark species are in peril of extinction.

In the Northwest Atlantic, all recorded shark species, with only one exception, have declined by more than 50 percent since 1988.

In addition, there has been:

• An 89 percent decline in hammerhead sharks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1988.
  
• An 80 percent decline in thresher sharks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1988.
  
• A 79 percent decline in great white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1988.
  
• A 65 percent decline in tiger sharks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1986.
  
• A 60 percent decline in blue sharks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1988.
  
• A 99 percent decline in oceanic white tip sharks in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1950s.
  
• A 90 percent decline in oceanic silky sharks in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1950s.
  
• A 60 percent decline in relative abundance of all sharks in Costa Rican waters in the last 10 years.