Shark finning — removing fins and discarding live sharks at sea — remains a serious welfare and conservation issue despite bans in many jurisdictions.
Sharks that are finned and returned to the sea experience a prolonged and painful death: unable to swim, they sink and suffocate or are consumed by other predators. The welfare harm is acute and extended. The conservation loss is also severe — sharks are apex predators whose removal destabilises marine ecosystems, indirectly affecting the welfare of countless other species. Fins-attached landing requirements, stronger port inspections, and consumer awareness campaigns in fin-consuming markets represent the most effective combination of enforcement and demand reduction strategies.