In 2015, Paul Allen launched a shark survey across 58 countries; 20% of reefs lacked sharks

The Global FinPrint initiative explored the health of reefs in 58 countries through underwater cameras, discovering that almost one-fifth of these reefs lacked sharks. This alarming reduction is tied to the closeness of markets and the density of human populations. Nonetheless, areas with conservation efforts, including protected areas and fishing restrictions, exhibited greater shark numbers, emphasizing the importance of sharks for food security and the integrity of marine ecosystems.