Wild Shark Welfare and Finning Practices

Shark finning causes severe welfare harm and threatens shark populations globally. Understanding the issue and regulatory progress helps advocates target effective interventions.

Key Facts

An estimated 100 million sharks are killed annually, primarily for their fins for shark fin soup
Finning involves removing fins from live sharks and discarding the body at sea, causing slow death
Finning is banned in many jurisdictions but enforcement at sea is difficult
Sharks are apex predators that play critical roles in marine ecosystem health
Over one third of open ocean shark species are now threatened with extinction
Shark fin trade has declined in some markets following awareness campaigns and restaurant pledges

Welfare Considerations

Shark finning causes extreme welfare harm. Sharks that have their fins removed while alive face a slow death from drowning as they cannot maintain water circulation through their gills, or from predation. The practice combines acute traumatic injury with prolonged suffering. Even where finning is banned, sharks face welfare harm from line entanglement, trawl bycatch, and stress during handling and release. Consumer demand reduction for shark fin products is a direct lever for reducing this welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Refuse to consume shark fin soup or products containing shark fin
Support restaurants and hotels that have removed shark fin from their menus
Advocate for strong finning bans and enforcement in your jurisdiction
Donate to shark conservation and anti-finning enforcement organisations
Support sustainable seafood campaigns that include shark protection as a priority