Shark Welfare: Finning, Bycatch, and Captive Care

The welfare challenges facing sharks from commercial finning, bycatch mortality, and the complexities of keeping sharks in aquaria.

Key Facts

Up to 100 million sharks are killed annually, many through the fin trade
Shark finning - removing fins and returning live sharks to the sea to die - is banned in many countries but continues illegally
Sharks caught as bycatch often die from exhaustion, injury, or barotrauma
Great white and whale sharks historically survive poorly in captivity
Sharks are apex predators whose removal affects entire marine ecosystem welfare

Welfare Considerations

Shark welfare is affected by multiple human activities. Finning causes sharks to drown after their fins are removed, a prolonged and distressing death. Bycatch sharks may experience exhaustion and barotrauma during hauling. Captive sharks in smaller aquaria show stereotypic swimming, abnormal behavior, and stress responses. The ecological role of sharks as predators means their welfare and conservation are linked - shark population declines have cascading effects on marine ecosystem health that affect the welfare of millions of other animals. Protecting sharks is both an individual welfare and ecosystem welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Avoid consuming shark fin soup and products containing shark fin
Support international shark finning bans and enforcement
Choose seafood from fisheries with low shark bycatch rates
Do not visit aquaria with evidence of poor shark welfare
Support marine protected areas that include shark nursery habitat