Marine Animals

Shark Finning and Shark Welfare

Shark finning — removing fins and discarding the body at sea — causes extreme suffering and has driven severe shark population declines.

Key Facts

Up to 100 million sharks are killed annually, with finning a major cause
Sharks are finned alive and thrown back to sea to drown slowly
Over 100 countries have banned shark finning in their waters but enforcement is inconsistent
Shark fin soup demand in China has declined 70-80% following public awareness campaigns
Many shark species are now threatened or endangered due to finning and bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Shark finning inflicts a uniquely cruel death: finned sharks sink to the seafloor unable to swim and suffocate slowly over hours. Beyond the individual welfare harm, the scale of shark mortality has ecosystem-level consequences that ultimately harm all marine animals. Sharks as apex predators maintain ecosystem balance, and their removal allows prey populations to boom and crash, disrupting food webs that support billions of marine animals.

What You Can Do

Never consume shark fin soup or products containing shark fin
Support shark finning bans and their enforcement in your country
Donate to ocean conservation organizations working on shark protection
Share information about shark finning with those who may consume shark products
Support sustainable seafood labeling that excludes shark products