Shortfin Mako are the world's fastest shark. They can swim up to 35km/hour! Often found off the coast of Atlantic Canada, Makos belong to the same family as the great white shark.

They're fast, but they can't outswim fishing gear.

Mako are heavily fished throughout the Atlantic ocean – thousands of tonnes are caught each year.  Shortfin Mako sharks are now considered globally Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

It’s even worse in the Atlantic. Research shows that even if fishing-related deaths stop immediately, there’s only a 50% chance that the North Atlantic Mako population could recover by 2045.

Makos are speeding towards extinction. But there's still hope. Scientists say that if there’s a chance to save Makos, we need an immediate Atlantic ban on keeping Mako sharks. 

Recently, Canada has been showing leadership in shark conservation. After a move earlier this year to ban the shark fin trade, Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said it was an example of Canada’s leadership on the conservation of our ocean environment. Now they have a chance to prove it.

Later this month, representatives from all the Atlantic fishing countries, including Canada, are meeting in Spain for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICAAT). This body has the power to stop the decline of Mako sharks in the Atlantic.

Canada can lead on pushing groundbreaking decisions at ICAAT that can reverse the decline of Mako Sharks --  they need to propose a ban on keeping Atlantic mako sharks for this to happen.

We have that chance this November. Tweet to Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, or send him an email urging Canada to take shark leadership and propose a ban on keeping Atlantic mako sharks.

Photo: Mark Conlin