Tens of million sharks and closely related rays are killed each year in fisheries, either intentionally (sometimes solely for their fins) or incidentally as bycatch. |
Europe is home to some of the world's largest fishing fleets and its powerful fisheries officials exert influence on international fishing restrictions in many regions of the globe. |
Poor European shark policies and enforcement, therefore, pose threats to sharks not only in European waters but in other parts of the world as well. |