Overview

• The 50th anniversary of Jaws is being marked with documentaries, theatrical re-releases and themed exhibitions reflecting on the film’s legacy.
• A 2024 Science study estimates annual shark mortality at around 100 million, and a 2021 Nature paper reports a 71 percent decline in oceanic shark and ray abundance since 1970.
• As apex predators, sharks help regulate prey populations, maintain ocean carbon cycles and create balanced ecosystems through their predatory behaviour.
• Nearly a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction due to commercial overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change.
• Experts note that Jaws popularized the idea of ‘bloodthirsty’ sharks, leading to a surge in shark-fishing and shark-killing tournaments, especially along the U.S. East Coast.