Source: IOL scitech
Author: Fiona Macrae
London – Fish oil supplements have been hailed as the latest weapon in the battle to ward off disease. However, the soaring demand for omega-3 capsules is putting deep-sea sharks in peril, warn conservationists.
They are a lucrative catch as their huge livers are packed with the valuable oils but many species are vulnerable to exploitation as they take decades to mature. The leafscale gulper needs 35 years to start breeding while the kitefin has a similar lifecycle.
The charity Oceana Europe claims fisherman are taking full advantage of a law allowing shark oil extracted from species caught outside the EU to be sold here.
Continue reading: