Greenland Sharks: 400+ Years of Life, an Uncertain Future (Classic)

Imagine a shark swimming through the Arctic today that was already alive before the United States existed. Greenland sharks are thought to be the longest-lived vertebrates on Earth, with research suggesting they can live for around 400 years—and potentially longer. Even more astonishing, females may take approximately 150 years to reach reproductive maturity. These slow-growing inhabitants of the cold North Atlantic and Arctic oceans live on a timescale that is almost impossible to comprehend. We’re revisiting this classic All Creatures Podcast episode following renewed headlines about a controversial proposal to kill 1,000 Greenland sharks. Earlier this year, Greenland’s Avannaata municipality approved a bounty scheme in response to fishers’ concerns about damaged equipment and lost catch. The scheme was subsequently dropped because the municipality lacked the legal authority to implement it, but the debate over killing these extraordinary animals continues. Greenland sharks are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Historically hunted for their liver oil, they now face ongoing threats from accidental capture in fishing gear, while climate change may alter their Arctic habitat. Their population size remains poorly understood, and their exceptionally slow growth and late maturity make them particularly susceptible to overfishing. Join us as we revisit one of the ocean’s most remarkable animals—and why protecting a creature whose life spans centuries requires thinking far beyond our own lifetimes. == Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices