What is the conservation status of sharks?
Today, populations of large sharks are only a fraction of what they were in the 1970s, largely due to over-fishing. The population of sandbar sharks, Virginia’s most common species, stands at about 50% of 1970s levels. This is an increase from the 15% levels seen during the late 1980s, before fisheries management plans started to have a positive effect. Current populations of sandtiger sharks (at 15% of 1970s levels), dusky sharks (25%), and tiger sharks (40%) remain severely depressed. Sharks are susceptible to over-fishing because they grow slowly, reach sexual maturity at an advanced age (most of the larger species reach sexually maturity at 6-21 years), and produce only 8-10 pups every other year. The lower Chesapeake Bay and the lagoons along the Eastern Shore constitute the principal nursery grounds for sandbar sharks. This is the most abundant large shark species on the Atlantic Coast, and the most important in both recreational and commercial fisheries.
