Sharks and rays are among the least-considered fish from a welfare perspective, yet they are highly evolved sensory animals capable of complex behavior. Overfishing and bycatch cause welfare harm at scale.
Sharks and rays occupy a peculiar welfare position: they are among the most feared animals in popular culture, yet their welfare receives almost no institutional attention. The reality is that sharks are complex animals with sophisticated sensory systems whose welfare is violated at enormous scale — primarily through bycatch and the shark fin trade. Finning in particular causes prolonged suffering that would be condemned if applied to any terrestrial vertebrate. The fear and misunderstanding surrounding sharks makes it harder to advocate for their welfare — which is precisely why evidence-based welfare advocacy for these species is important.