Though Shark Week has become somewhat sensationalized -- replete with drinking games and hashtags such as #Chompdown -- the Discovery Channel's annual special also serves to bring one harsh reality out of the shadowy waters and onto dry land.
Nearly one-third of shark species are at risk for extinction, and up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for their fins, Reuters reports. Though this top predator (which has been around since before the dinosaurs) faces some serious risks, there are a number of ways that activists can step up during the Discovery Channel's longest running programming event to make sure this fish sticks around for another 400 million years.
Click through the slideshow below to find out how you can protect sharks.
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