Sharks face severe welfare threats from finning, bycatch, and recreational fishing, with growing scientific evidence that they are capable of experiencing pain and distress.
Shark welfare is an emerging issue that intersects conservation and individual animal ethics. Finning — removing fins from live sharks and discarding them at sea — causes a prolonged death through bleeding, predation, or inability to swim and breathe. This practice causes genuine suffering in animals with the neurological capacity to experience it. Even where finning is banned, enforcement is inconsistent and bycatch mortality remains high. Consumer demand for shark fin products is the primary driver of finning, making dietary choices a meaningful leverage point. Species conservation and individual welfare interests strongly align in the case for shark fin consumption reduction.