Wildlife Welfare

Shark Finning and Welfare Implications

Shark finning — removing fins and discarding live sharks at sea — causes prolonged suffering and has decimated shark populations globally. Bans and demand reduction are the primary welfare interventions.

Key Facts

Approximately 100 million sharks are killed annually, many through finning
Finned sharks dumped alive sink and die from suffocation or predation over hours to days
Over 100 species of sharks are considered vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered
Fin-to-carcass ratio requirements on fishing vessels have reduced finning but not eliminated it
Shark fin soup demand is concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Chinese diaspora communities

Welfare Considerations

Shark finning causes prolonged, severe suffering. Sharks returned to the water without their fins cannot swim effectively and die slowly. Beyond individual welfare, the scale of shark depletion removes apex predators from marine ecosystems, causing cascading welfare harms throughout food webs. Consumer demand reduction campaigns targeting shark fin soup consumption have shown measurable results in some markets.

What You Can Do

Never order shark fin soup or products containing shark fin
Support retailers and restaurants with explicit no-shark-fin policies
Advocate for total shark finning bans and fin-attached landing requirements globally
Donate to organizations documenting finning and running demand-reduction campaigns