Extinction threatens four more species of deep-sea sharks and rays than a year ago, bringing the total species classified as "threatened" to 20 species, or nearly a third of the world's 64 species, according to a report (pdf) released today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rays and sharks are already two of the most endangered fish groups, researchers say. The threat facing pelagic sharks and rays stems largely from overfishing; in many parts of the world, shark meat is considered a delicacy, and some animals become ensnared in fishing nets intended to catch tuna or swordfish. The report also
urges governments to halt shark "finning," the slicing of fins from captured sharks which are then tipped back into the sea to die, which it says is a growing industry providing ingredients for the Asian delicacy, shark fin soup. Although finning bans have been declared in most global ...
