Recreational fishermen claim they are losing their catch to sharks, and rather than adapting their fishing practices, they are claiming that shark populations have “exploded.” In reality, NOAA has documented that U.S. Atlantic shark populations have been on a steep decline since the 1980s.
We cannot let the sportfishing lobby write the rules for ocean conservation. As Shark Stewards, we must demand that ocean policy be guided by peer-reviewed science, not the frustrations of anglers losing a catch.