The impact of climate change on Madagascar is already greatly discussed, but there are several lesser-studied problems global warming is causing. Commercial overfishing and abnormal weather have destroyed parts of Madagascar's fishing industry, leaving local fishermen looking for alternative sources of income. Unfortunately for Madagascar's dwindling shark population, Chinese markets have extremely high demand for shark fins -- and they'll pay a lot for them. Many fishing communities, particularly in the impoverished small islands surrounding Madagascar, depend on sharks for their livelihood. Decreasing shark populations means sinking even deeper into poverty for these people, who already only earn $20-50 per month. Several areas of Madagascar have agreed to create shark sanctuaries for breeding sharks, staffed by the local fishing communities that once hunted them. Unfortunately, Madagascar has the weakest fishing regulation enforcements in the Indian Ocean, so the future of these sanctuaries is uncertain at best without foreign intervention. Poor sharks :(
Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/11/endangered-lifeline-madagascar-sharks-151126094253606.html
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