24. Under Threat: Sharks, Seas, and the Laws That Protect Them

Today, we’re joined by David McGuire, Executive Director of Shark Stewards, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered marine species and the critical ocean habitats they depend on.For more than fifty years, foundational laws such as the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act have served as our nation’s safety net for wildlife and wild places. First enacted under President Nixon, these landmark protections have saved countless species from extinction and safeguarded some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems.Today, that hard-won legacy is under serious threat. Efforts to weaken or dismantle these laws would create a crisis not only for wildlife, but for the health of our oceans and the coastal communities that rely on them. David is working to defend sharks, rays, and the broader ocean ecosystems they call home.From combating the global shark fin trade to establishing marine protected areas and engaging communities in hands-on science, Shark Stewards advances conservation from local beaches to international policy arenas.https://sharkstewards.org/saving-sharks/