Shark Fishing Ban

Known as the shark diving capital of the world with the most diverse shark populations globally, officials in the Bahamas have made a move to protect aquatic wildlife by banning commercial shark fishing. More than 40 species are now protected in an estimated 243,000 square miles of water surrounding the islands. The new law also raises shark-fishing fines from $3,000 to $5,000. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, approximately a third of all shark species are threatened with extinction due to practices such as the sale of shark meat and slicing off sharks’ fins for consumption.