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What Types of Sharks Are Endangered?

There are approximately 200 sharks on the Endangered Species list -- a list of species at risk of extinction due to a low or declining population. Another list, the Threatened Species list, lists animals at risk of becoming endangered in the future. According to the International Action Plan for Sharks, established by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), there are 100 species of shark that are commercially exploited, many of which are at risk of extinction. The primary threat to these animals is commercial hunting and international trade. Some sharks in particular stand out as being gravely at risk.

Porbeagle Shark
- The porbeagle shark is a white and blue/grey, relatively long and heavy shark, reaching up to 12 feet and over 300 lbs. The porbeagle is sought by hunters for its meat, which fetches high prices on the shark market, reports the Nature Canada website. The shark finds it home in the Northwest Atlantic. Even though its population is at an all-time low, hunting the porbeagle shark is legal. In recent years, however, fishing quotas have been established in an attempt to restore the population. The current population estimate for these sharks is somewhere around 180,000 in the Northwest Atlantic.
Great White Shark
- The great white shark, the iconic image of a shark for many, has been on the endangered species list since 1994 with an estimated population of about 3,500. The great white can reach up to 20 feet and 5,000 lbs., and is found throughout the world in temperate water. And while the great white is highly dangerous to humans, it is hunted for its teeth and jaws, which are highly valued on the international market, according to the Shark Foundation. Trade in these sharks is legal, although dwindling numbers may lead to an outright ban on the trade in great white sharks.
Basking Shark
- The basking shark is a long, slender shark found throughout the world in temperate and polar waters. On of the most endangered sharks in the world, the basking shark is harmless to humans and feeds on plankton. Because of their migratory patterns, basking sharks often get caught in the nets of commercial fisherman -- much like dolphins. Because of this, the population has declined by 90 percent in recent years.
Whale Shark
- Whale sharks are the largest fish species, reaching lengths up to 46 feet, and are believed to have originated as far back as 60 million years ago. Whale sharks are gentle fish, harmless to humans, that eat plankton. Today, whale sharks are an endangered species due to over-hunting by commercial fishing operations that seek their meat and other parts such as their fins. The whale shark was added to the list of threatened species in 1994.

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