Shark Research
ODCA's Shark Research is supported through charitable giving.
ODCA is a US-based 501(c)(3) charity.
All donations are tax-deductible.
ODCA is a US-based 501(c)(3) charity.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Our Core Shark Research Areas:
- Analyzing the impact of shark provisioning and the implications of dive ecotourism
- Shark tagging to study migration patterns
- Advocacy against shark finning operations
- Investigating hereditary lines through state-of-the-art genetic sampling
Shark Facts
- Sharks possess a widespread global distribution and play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our oceans. Sharks serve as keystone species!
- They keep prey from over-grazing vital habitats and from becoming too prevalent.
- Without sharks, the delicate balance of the food chain collapses. This breakdown propels other species into extinction.
- Removing sharks from our oceans not only tampers with a significant source of the globe’s protein supply, but also jeopardizes primary employment for millions.
- Did you know that the ocean produces more oxygen than all of the rain forests combined and also helps to regulate our planet’s weather? An ocean without sharks is a planet with an oxygen crisis!
Shark Population Declines
- Factors like bycatch, long lines, finning, overfishing, and stigma are devastating our shark populations.
- It is estimated that over 73,000,000 sharks will be slaughtered this year.
- That is a staggering rate of over 11,000 animals dead each and every hour.
- More than 90% of the world’s shark populations have been lost over the past 20 years, largely due to illegal fishing.
The reality is that if these apex predators become extinct, our oceans die with them.
