Global Support Needed During European Shark Week Project AWARE and the Shark Alliance call for global support to restore and conserve threatened shark populations. European Shark Week - held from 8 – 14 October - is a chance to take action and protect sharks– no matter where you live or dive. How Can You Get Involved? Sign a Shark Fin supporting the Every Fin Counts campaign. Involve your friends, family and colleagues in the effort to conserve sharks. Signatures supporting the creation of a European Union Conservation Plan for sharks this October will be presented to European Commissioner Joe Borg, who is responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. Global support is urgently needed to restore and conserve threatened shark populations. Around 100 million sharks are killed each year, and few countries have management plans in place to protect sharks populations. Most shark species are either fished to capacity or over fished worldwide. The European Union includes some of the most important shark fishing nations in the world. Sharks are the main species hunted by more than 200 efficient European longliners – targeting Atlantic blue, mako, thresher and hammerhead sharks – considered vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN (World Conservation Union). Tell the European Union that you support strong management of sharks, catch controls and an end to overfishing. A strong conservation plan for Europe will have positive implications for international fisheries. Thank you for your dedication and support for healthy underwater environments. Project AWARE is part of the Shark Alliance, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations dedicated to conserving and restoring shark populations by improving European fishing policy. Shark Facts: Approximately 100 million sharks are killed each year Most shark species are either fished to capacity or overfished worldwide Few countries have management plans in place to protect sharks populations and, at the current mortality rate, many shark species may soon be extinct.