Thresher sharks use their distinctive long tails to stun prey but are highly vulnerable to gillnet and longline bycatch across their global range.
Gillnet entanglement prevents swimming required for breathing, causing rapid drowning. Long tail lobes increase entanglement likelihood as animals attempt to flee. Longline hook injuries cause infection and impaired swimming. Finning causes drowning. Post-release mortality of bycatch is high as obligate swimmers that have been restrained often cannot recover swimming coordination.