Research biologist Mark Marks is one of the five shark reseachers featured in Shark! Beyond the Jaws. A native Californian, Marks is best known for his pioneering studies of the behavior and social dynamics of great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. Marks literally swims with the sharks outside the confines of a cage to get a unique perspective on the little-known world of white shark behavior and feeding ecology. For more than 20 years, his research on elasmobranch fish (sharks, skates and rays), including dozens of shark species, has taken him to numerous countries and remote locations off four continents.

The Q&A is over, but read Marks' responses to your questions.

Disappearing sharks
Shark evolution
Shark deterrent?
Nonstop swimmers?
Shark posturing
Swimming with the sharks?
Shark diving
Shark education
Shark enemies
Shark reproduction
Great white disposition
Favorite shark
Shark eyes
Shark companions
Bite pressure
Bladderless sharks
Warmblooded killers
Hammerheads
Thresher sharks
Great whites in captivity
Shark protection

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Q: On Disappearing Sharks

My name is Hayden. I am 8 years old, and I love sharks. I hope you are doing very well at finding out new shark skills, and finding sharks. I already know that great white sharks are known as man-eaters, but they're really not. My question is...Why are so many species of sharks disappearing all over the world?

A: Dear Hayden,
Sharks are declining globally due to human fishing pressure and biologically unsound fishing practices, including the use of huge factory processing ships, thousands of miles of gill nets and long lines with baited hooks. In particular, shark populations are being fished out by direct commercial fishing and sport fishing (trophy hunting for shark jaws and world-record attempts), as well as by being caught ("by-catch") accidentally during fishing for other targeted species, such as tuna and swordfish. Hundreds of millions of sharks are killed each year! The cruel and shameful practice of "finning," cutting off a shark's fins while it's still alive and discarding the animal back into the sea, is perhaps one of the worst problems facing many species of shark; all this cruelty and waste to make an Asian cultural dish — shark fin soup! In many areas of the world, important and critical breeding areas and nursery habitats are being destroyed due to deforestation and pollution. What is clear is that sharks have much more to fear from humans than we do from them. And yes, you are correct, sharks are not man-eaters...very rarely this may take place, but in general sharks eat marine fish and invertebrates.

Did you know that sharks are quite sociable? Listen to an audio interview with Mark Marks.