What Is Shark Pollution?
Shark pollution refers to the buildup of harmful substances in shark tissues and habitats. These include plastics, heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals that enter oceans from runoff, waste, and atmospheric deposition.
How Pollution Affects Sharks
Sharks absorb toxins through food and gills, leading to organ damage, reduced reproduction, and weakened immune systems. Microplastics can block digestive tracts, while persistent pollutants like mercury accumulate up the food chain, posing risks to shark survival.
Sources and Broader Impacts
Major sources include coastal development, shipping, fishing gear, and plastic waste. Polluted sharks can indicate wider ocean stress, affecting marine ecosystems and, in some regions, fisheries that depend on healthy predator populations. Learn more about ocean pollution from the United Nations Environment Programme at UNEP Marine Pollution.
