Dear Defender of Wildlife,

Shortfin mako sharks are the fastest shark species in the world, reaching speeds as high as 45 mph.

But these sharks are speeding toward extinction, unless we act fast!

Our best chance to help endangered shortfin mako sharks is in just a few days. We need to demand that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) protects this species before it's too late!

TAKE ACTION: Raise your voice for mako sharks. Tell the NOAA to take action now!

Mako shark numbers are plummeting, and overfishing is the biggest culprit. Like many shark species, shortfin makos have slow reproductive rates, with small litters and gestation periods up to 18 months.

Those long reproductive timelines make these sharks especially vulnerable – without our help, populations like the North Atlantic shortfin mako could continue to suffer from overfishing until they disappear altogether.

The international organization responsible for regulating fishing in Shortfin habitat, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), has done little or nothing to stop the mako's decline.

Next week, the NOAA will participate in the ICCAT annual meeting. We have one chance to make sure they take action to prevent shortfin makos from continuing on the path to extinction!

Demand that the NOAA urge the U.S. government to put forward a plan to protect mako sharks, before we lose these species!

Unless we act now, our children will inherit a world in which these magnificent animals exist only in our memories. It's on us to make sure that doesn't happen.

Thank you for all you do for the wildlife we love.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Goyenechea Vice Senior International Counsel, Conservation Programs Defenders of Wildlife