Hammerhead sharks are heavily targeted by the shark fin trade, and their welfare during capture and finning represents a significant concern.
Hammerhead sharks suffer immensely during finning, which leaves them unable to swim and drowning slowly on the ocean floor. Longline bycatch causes stress, injury, and high mortality. Their complex neural anatomy and stress physiology indicates significant capacity for suffering. Electrosensory organs make them particularly sensitive to underwater disturbances from fishing gear.