and recreational retention of dusky sharks was prohibited in 1998, but this has been of limited effectiveness due to high bycatch mortality on multi-species gear. In addition, some 2,000 dusky sharks were caught by recreational fishers in 2003 despite the ban. In 2005, North Carolina implemented a time/area closure to reduce the impact of recreational fishing. To aid conservation efforts, molecular techniques using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed that can identify whether marketed shark parts (e.g. fins) are from prohibited species like the dusky shark, versus similar allowed species such as the sandbar shark. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the dusky shark as "Migrant" with the qualifier "Secure Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. References External links Youtube video of Dusky Sharks at Shelly Beach in Sydney Carcharhinus obscurus, Dusky shark at FishBase Biological Profiles: Dusky Shark at Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department dusky shark Fish of the Eastern United States Fish of the Mediterranean Sea Fish of South Africa Fish of the Dominican Republic Pantropical fish Vulnerable fish Vulnerable biota of Africa Vulnerable fauna of Asia Vulnerable biota of Europe Vulnerable fauna of Oceania Vulnerable biota of South America dusky shark