Sharks and rays (elasmobranchs) are among the most threatened vertebrate groups, with an estimated 100 million sharks killed annually primarily through targeted fishing and bycatch. Bycatch welfare concerns are substantial: sharks caught on longlines, in trawls, or in gill nets experience hypoxia, exhaustion, physical trauma, and death over prolonged periods. Post-release mortality from bycatch capture varies by species and handling: blue sharks show 10-20% post-release mortality from longline capture; nurse sharks and some ray species show higher survival if released promptly. Shark finning - removing fins at sea and discarding the body alive - causes prolonged suffering. Eighty countries have banned shark finning, requiring whole sharks to be landed. Circle hooks and fish aggregating device exclusion zones reduce shark bycatch in tuna longline fisheries. MSC certification increasingly requires bycatch reduction plans for shark species. Satellite tagging studies are improving post-release survival data to inform welfare-conscious bycatch management.