A large Great hammerhead shark cruises overhead in a blue ocean.
© naturepl.com / Alex Mustard / WWF

Support Sharks

Learn more about sharks and how you can best support WWF

Around 50% of sharks are considered threatened or near threatened

The ocean home of these magnificent ocean predators is at risk. Climate change is warming the seas and disrupting marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, plastic pollution and abandoned "ghost" fishing gear pose further dangers.

These combined pressures are pushing many shark species toward decline, highlighting the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts. 

Read on to find out about WWF's work to protect sharks, and how you can help too. 

How does WWF work help to protect sharks?

Field of corals that have been bleached

PROTECTING CORAL REEFS

WWF is working around the world to better protect and manage our oceans, including vital shark habitats. Many shark species depend on coral reefs as their hunting grounds. Their loss means sharks have fewer places to live, hunt and reproduce. 50% of the world's coral reefs have been lost and the rest could disappear completely by 2050 if climate change remains unchecked. Read more about WWF's work in Belize Barrier Reef .
silhouette of a shark photographed from beneath, swimming close to the surface of sunlit water

Stopping illegal trade

Sharks are sometimes caught deliberately for their fins, which are a delicacy in some countries. WWF collaborates with TRAFFIC, an anti-wildlife trade organisation, to stop illegal trade in shark products.
Team searching for Basking Sharks around the Isle of Mull
© Nina Constable / WWF-UK

Keeping UK oceans clean

Did you know that sharks even come to visit us in the UK? From basking sharks to blue sharks and even Greenland sharks. By keeping UK oceans as clean as we can, we can reduce the likelihood of sharks ingesting plastic or getting tangled up in it. Beyond UK waters, we are working with fisheries around the world to reduce accidental bycatch, a major cause of shark death. Read about some of our basking shark conservation success stories .

How can you help protect sharks?

DONATE TO WWF
Make a donation to help fund WWF's vital work around the work to bring our world back to life Donate
BECOME A MEMBER
Join WWF today and support the incredible work we're doing to help nature thrive Join WWF
BROWSE OUR SHOP
Pick up a cute shark cuddly toy, or browse our other ocean themed products WWF Shop

Learn more about sharks

Sharks have become misunderstood creatures that actually provide huge benefits to our oceans. Did you know that they have been around for over 400 million years (long before dinosaurs)? Or that the basking shark is Britain’s largest fish and the second largest in the world?

Discover more about these magnificent creatures by watching our top 10 facts video!