Shark finning — removing fins and discarding live sharks at sea — causes slow death by suffocation and drowning and threatens shark populations globally.
Shark finning involves one of the most protracted forms of death in commercial fishing — animals with fins removed are thrown into the ocean where they slowly drown or are eaten alive, unable to swim. The welfare cost is severe and prolonged. Beyond individual welfare, the population-level impacts threaten ocean ecosystem stability that affects welfare for countless other species. Consumer demand reduction in key markets has proven more effective than enforcement-based approaches in reducing this practice.