These Dolphins, Sharks, and Whales May Go Extinct
Dolphins, sharks, and whales are among the most beloved sea creatures—they capture the human imagination with their beauty, intelligence, fearsomeness, and sheer size. Sadly, certain species of dolphins, sharks, and whales are threatened with extinction. Here’s a look at some of these species and what’s being done to protect them.
1. Angel sharks
This genus of sharks has a unique shape that’s unlike that of others. Appearing more like a ray, angel sharks have flat bodies and large pectoral fins, and they inhabit sandy seafloors in shallower waters. There are 26 distinct species of this fish. Four of them are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) while eight others are classified as critically endangered.
Years ago, angel sharks were so plentiful in the ocean that they were harvested commercially using specially designed nets. Today, they are often ensnared in nets meant for other fish and unintentionally caught by commercial bottom trawlers. Water pollution is another threat. As a result, their populations have dropped off drastically, and certain species in the Mediterranean Sea are particularly at risk of extinction. Major conservation efforts include the Angel Shark Conservation Network, which brings together nonprofits, universities, zoological societies, and other groups to conduct further research, share knowledge internationally, and raise awareness of threats to these creatures.
2. Atlantic humpback dolphins
These dolphins live in the warm, shallow waters off the West African coast, where there’s considerable fishing activity that provides both food and a source of livelihood for the local population. The consequence for this species is that it’s frequently a victim of bycatch or unintended harvesting.
In addition, the fishing industry targets many of the same fish that the dolphins rely on for food, further impacting their ability to thrive. Atlantic humpback dolphins are also threatened by pollution. Deemed critically endangered by the IUCN, there are approximately 1,500 of these lovely creatures remaining. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin is one organization supporting research on the species, regional collaboration on conservation projects, and educational outreach in the countries where the dolphin is found.
3. Bowhead whale
One interesting fact about bowhead whales is that under their skin they have a blubber layer up to 1.6 feet thick that allows them to live in the freezing cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. Another adaptation that helps them survive in this environment is their thick skull, which they use to break up sea ice up to 8 inches thick as they swim through frigid waters.
Bowhead whales were once hunted widely, beginning around the 16th century AD. By the 20th century, their numbers were in deep decline, but an international moratorium on commercial whaling was declared in 1982. Subsistence hunting of bowheads by Indigenous Arctic peoples is allowed, since it’s a practice deeply embedded in many Arctic cultures and is not done for profit. Although hunting is no longer a major threat to bowheads, they continue to be harmed by oil spills, vessel strikes, and entanglements in fishing gear. In the US, they are listed under the Endangered Species Act.
4. False killer whale
These whales are not really whales at all, but dolphins. They inhabit tropical and subtropical areas of the ocean and are extremely sociable mammals, hunting in groups and sharing their catch with one another. They are considered near threatened; there’s some ambiguity as to their global population but local/regional populations are covered by various conservation treaties.
In the US, a population around Hawaii is listed as endangered—no more than 200 remain. Fishing is their main threat, as they can get tangled in gear and may swallow hooks that damage their internal organs. False killer whales are also known for beaching themselves in large numbers, for unknown reasons. One such mass beaching event occurred in 2017, in Florida, when 100 animals were found on a remote beach.
5. Great hammerhead sharks
Great hammerheads are the biggest of the hammerhead shark species at 500 pounds in weight and up to 13 feet long. They’re at risk due to the growing demand for shark fin; commercial shark finning is now illegal in many countries, but the international trade is not well regulated. The real global catch of many shark species is thought to be much more than what’s reported. At the same time, great hammerheads are also unintentionally caught as bycatch. Due to these threats, the IUCN considers them critically endangered.
In response to ongoing encouragement from different advocacy groups, in 2022 the great hammerhead and nearly 100 other shark and ray species were given protection under CITES, an international agreement regulating trade in wild animals and plants.
In closing
From dolphins to sharks to whales, there are several incredible marine mammals and fish whose long-term survival is in jeopardy if we do not act to conserve them. Recognizing why these species are in peril is the first step to providing them with the protection they need.