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Sharks threatened with extinction

GLAND, Switzerland (UPI) -- A Switzerland headquartered conservation group says at least one-third of the Earth's sharks are threatened with extinction, primarily because of overfishing.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature said its study is the first to determine the global conservation status of 64 species of open ocean sharks and ray.

IUCN officials said the percentage of open ocean shark species threatened with extinction is higher for sharks taken in high-seas fisheries (52 percent), than for the group as a whole.

"Despite mounting threats, sharks remain virtually unprotected on the high seas," said Sonja Fordham, deputy chairwoman of the IUCN shark specialist group. "The vulnerability and lengthy migrations of most open ocean sharks call for coordinated, international conservation plans. Our report documents serious overfishing of these species … and demonstrates a clear need for immediate action on a global scale."

The report is available at http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/ssg_pelagic_report_final.pdf.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 06/25/2009

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