Sharks and Conservation: Myths and Realities

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Odds are you probably know what that line references without having to click the link. And there's a good reason for that.

Sharks have been around for nearly 450 million years – a lot longer than humans. And in the relatively short time we've shared the planet with them, they've become a part of some of our most treasured pop culture moments. But that also means they've fallen victim to pop culture narratives.

Since the release of "Jaws" in 1975, sharks – especially great white sharks – have endured a reputation as aggressive and violent. But however we're thinking about them on land, they're struggling to survive at sea.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, nearly a third of all shark and ray species are threatened with extinction – with overfishing and harmful fishing practices at the top of the list of hazards.

We get into all things sharks, from the so-called "Jaws-effect," to all the things we get wrong about this fascinating fish.

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