Marine Life

Shark Welfare in Finning Bans

Shark finning — removing fins and discarding the body at sea — causes extreme suffering and threatens shark populations globally.

Key Facts

Up to 100 million sharks are killed annually for the fin trade
Finned sharks are often still alive when thrown back to drown
Shark fins have minimal nutritional value compared to their ecological role
Over 30% of shark species are threatened with extinction

Welfare Considerations

Finning causes sharks to drown slowly on the ocean floor — an exceptionally cruel death for apex predators essential to marine ecosystem health. Despite bans in many jurisdictions, enforcement is inconsistent. Demand for shark fin soup continues to drive the practice. The welfare and ecological cases against finning are both overwhelming.

What You Can Do

Refuse shark fin soup and products containing shark fin
Support effective enforcement of finning bans
Advocate for full shark fin trade bans, not just finning bans
Support marine protected areas that benefit shark populations