Pet sharks have become cool, but is owning them ethical?

Mongabay News, 19 September 2025 – Pet sharks may seem like the next “cool” exotic animal to own, but Monica Biondo warns that the ethics behind keeping them – from wild capture to welfare in home aquariums – demand serious scrutiny. The rise in live-shark trade is alarming since nearly two-thirds of reef-associated shark and ray species are at risk of extinction. She highlights how the booming trade in ornamental and exotic aquatic animals often lacks transparency, and questions whether we understand the long-term consequences for ecosystems and the animals themselves: https://mongabay1.substack.com/p/pet-sharks-have-become-cool-but-is