Hammerhead sharks are among the most threatened shark species, facing severe population declines from targeted finning, bycatch in longline fisheries, and demand for shark fin soup that drives global trade.
Shark finning inflicts one of the most prolonged and cruel deaths documented in any fishery. Hammerhead sharks are obligate ram ventilators - they must swim continuously to force water over their gills. When fins are removed and the shark is thrown back into the water, it sinks, unable to swim, while remaining fully conscious. It suffocates over a period that may last hours as it cannot respire without movement. This documented process of conscious suffocation represents extreme and prolonged suffering. The scale of the shark fin trade - tens of millions of sharks annually - means this suffering is replicated at a staggering level. Even sharks that survive longline capture experience extreme stress and physiological exhaustion from hours of confinement.