Sandbar sharks are commonly found in fisheries worldwide, but their slow growth and low reproduction rates make them highly susceptible to overfishing. Distinct Field Traits Confirmed the Species’ IdentityWhen the fishermen delivered the shark to a local port, it immediately caught the attention of a visiting research team. The shark’s prominent physical features — including disproportionately large eyes, a tall first dorsal fin, and dusky-edged fins — matched well-known descriptors of the sandbar shark, a species that had never been confirmed in the Philippines before. Life History Traits Put Sandbar Sharks at RiskThe Carcharhinus plumbeus is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN. As noted in the Florida Museum’s species profile, sandbar sharks are often targeted because of their moderate size, palatable meat, and high fin-to-carcass ratio.