Shark finning involves removing fins from living sharks before discarding them at sea. The practice causes immense suffering and threatens shark populations globally.
Finned sharks experience acute pain, blood loss, and slow death by drowning or predation after being returned to the water. The welfare impact is enormous both in individual suffering and in population-scale mortality. Conservation arguments against shark finning align strongly with welfare concerns. Consumer campaigns in Asia have reduced demand for shark fin soup, particularly among younger generations. Stronger international trade regulation remains necessary.