Marine Animals

Shark Finning and Welfare

Shark finning removes fins from live sharks that are then thrown back into the ocean to die slowly, for shark fin soup.

Key Facts

Approximately 73 million sharks are killed annually for their fins
Finning involves removing fins and discarding the still-living shark
The EU banned finning in 2003 but enforcement is weak
Shark fin soup is a status dish at weddings and business events
Sharks are apex predators whose decline destabilizes marine ecosystems

Welfare Considerations

Finned sharks thrown back into the ocean experience a prolonged death by suffocation, as they cannot swim to ventilate their gills, blood loss, and predation while still alive. Death can take hours. This represents one of the most severe welfare abuses in commercial fishing. The practice causes suffering at enormous scale to animals capable of experiencing pain.

What You Can Do

Never consume shark fin soup
Support shark finning bans and fin trade restrictions
Advocate for full shark fin import bans
Donate to WildAid and shark conservation organizations