Marine Animals

Shark Finning: Welfare and Ecosystem Impact

Shark finning involves removing fins from live sharks and discarding the body, causing slow drowning and threatening critical marine ecosystems.

Key Facts

Up to 100 million sharks are killed annually, primarily for fin soup
Finned sharks are often discarded alive and sink, unable to swim without fins
Sharks regulate prey populations that maintain coral reef and seagrass health
72 countries have adopted some form of shark finning ban

Welfare Considerations

Finned sharks die slowly from blood loss, suffocation as they sink unable to ventilate gills, or predation. The process is documented to cause significant distress. Beyond individual welfare, shark population collapse has cascading effects on the ocean ecosystems that billions of marine animals depend upon.

What You Can Do

Never consume shark fin soup or products containing shark fin
Support legislation for fins-naturally-attached policies in your jurisdiction
Choose seafood certified to avoid shark bycatch
Donate to organizations combating illegal finning and advocating for shark protections