Blue sharks are found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters.  In Hawaii these beautiful sharks can also be seen in near-shore waters as well.  The largest blue shark on record, according to researchers, was 12.6 feet, but they are rumored to reach up to 20 feet.  This length has yet to be documented.  Researchers believe male sharks mature first around 4 to 5 years old and about 9 feet in length.  Females age about 5 to 6 years and 7 to 10.5 feet long.  Most researchers believe these animals can live for about 20 years, provided they don't get fished out. Most shark species are slow to mature, and have few offspring.  Researchers do not know how many out of each litter survive, but odds are definitely against survival, in any form.

Fishing globally is taking our shark populations down at a rapid rate, even in Hawaii.  According to Gerald Crow, who wrote Sharks & Rays of Hawaii, thousands of sharks lose their lives every year to the fishing industry and show up in the marketplace.  Sharks are not a protected specie in Hawaii and many other places worldwide.  According to the IUCN, over 50% of the global shark species are critically endangered.

According to researchers, if this fishing industry is allowed to continue, in addition to the finning industry, which takes over 100 MILLION sharks annually, our oceans have less than 100 years before they collapse.  If this is true, we are all in dire trouble.  In Hawaii alone, from 1991 to 1999, nearly 900,000 sharks were killed for the marketplace.  These were mostly blue,mako and thresher sharks.  The style of fishing was long-lining, which is famous for indiscriminate taking of turtles, marine mammals, and many others.

What do we do?  First, we need to all educate ourselves.  Go to reliable websites and become armed with information.  Boycott restaurants that serve shark fin soup, and tell them why.  Physically go in to the restaurant, check the menu, and tell the management you will return when that item is removed, and walk out.  Write letters to your local newspapers.  Blog about it.  Protest in your area and ceaselessly put pressure to pass laws for shark protection.  Our children, our future depends on it.  The time is now.

Photo Courtesy Darren Baker, fishbase.org