Wildlife

Shark Finning and Marine Ecosystem Welfare

Shark finning — removing fins and discarding live sharks at sea — causes suffering to millions of sharks annually while devastating ocean ecosystems.

Key Facts

Up to 100 million sharks are killed each year for the fin trade
Finning involves cutting off fins and discarding the living shark to drown
Shark fins are used primarily in shark fin soup, a status dish in parts of Asia
Sharks play critical roles as apex predators in maintaining ocean ecosystem balance
Many shark species are now threatened or endangered due to finning pressure

Welfare Considerations

Shark finning inflicts a prolonged, cruel death on animals that have neurological systems capable of experiencing pain and distress. Finned sharks, unable to swim and thus unable to pass water over their gills, slowly suffocate at the ocean bottom. The welfare concern is compounded by the ecological damage: removing apex predators destabilizes marine ecosystems that support millions of other animals, with cascading welfare consequences throughout food webs.

What You Can Do

Never consume shark fin soup or products containing shark fins
Support international shark finning bans and fishing regulations
Choose seafood certified as shark-safe
Donate to shark conservation organizations working on policy change