CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -India ranks second after Indonesia on the global list of shark fishing nations as fishing of the species in the country has progressed from being “incidental” to “targeted”, a wildlife body said on Thursday. “Shark fishing in India has progressed from being incidental to targeted over the years.

Detailed explanation-2: -Located in the heart of the coral triangle, Indonesia is home to a huge variety of sharks and many of them are endemic (i.e. species that can only be found in Indonesia!). However, Indonesia is also the world’s largest shark fishing nation – they catch more sharks per year than any other country in the world!

Detailed explanation-3: -The top five biggest shark fishing nations in the world are Indonesia, Spain, India, Mexico and the USA. Sharks are harvested primarily for their meat and fins but have also been targeted for their skin, cartilage and liver. The value of the world trade in shark commodities approaches nearly USD$1 billion per year.

Detailed explanation-4: -There are more than 1, 000 species of sharks and rays, with new species discovered every year. These majestic top predators that are so essential to the natural order of marine ecosystems now face their most severe threat from overfishing.