Shark finning — removing fins and discarding live sharks at sea — causes prolonged suffering and represents a severe welfare violation at scale.
Shark finning represents acute, prolonged welfare harm at massive scale. Sharks whose fins are removed and who are returned to the sea alive face suffocation — sinking to the bottom unable to swim, they die slowly over many hours. The fact that sharks have historically been viewed as unfeeling killing machines makes this suffering invisible to many consumers and policymakers. Neurological evidence confirms sharks have pain-processing capacity that makes finning a genuine welfare catastrophe.