The FAO collets these figures from the affiliated fishing nations.
These answers are given voluntarily and not verified. (How could they be?). Add to this unreported bycatch that is thrown over board again at once, and extensive piracy. The sum of the reported figures is therefore questionable, and the FAO itself estimates the actual figures to be double that and speaks of 100 million sharks probably being caught around the world. This figure is generally accepted, since it comes from the United Nations, and is used by most shark protection organisations.