A third of shark species face extinction. Here’s what one man is doing to help

Diego Cardeñosa has loved sharks ever since he was a child. The Colombia native was never afraid of them when he visited his beloved beach. Instead, he was fascinated with how sharks move through water using their multiple fins. It’s no surprise he became a marine biologist.

“As soon as I realized they were going through a conservation crisis, I wanted to help what I love the most,” said Cardeñosa.

Sharks need him more than ever. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature reports 35% of all shark species are threatened with extinction. That number has grown nearly 50% in a decade’s time.

The primary reason is overfishing; shark meat and fins are highly sought.

“They are being killed at a rate that cannot be sustained in the future,” said Cardeñosa.

Scientists worry the sharks’ dwindling numbers could bring ecological collapse as they play a number of key roles in the ocean.