The shark fin trade drives the killing of tens of millions of sharks annually, often through the brutal practice of finning, causing massive welfare and conservation harm.
Finning is among the most cruel forms of wildlife exploitation. Sharks that have their fins removed and are returned to the water are conscious and experience significant pain and distress as they drown or bleed out. The suffering is prolonged and severe. Even sharks killed for fins before removal experience the same welfare problems as other wild-caught fish subjected to poor slaughter practices.