Marine Animals

Shark Finning Welfare and Conservation Crisis

Shark finning — removing fins and discarding living sharks at sea — causes prolonged drowning death and has devastated shark populations globally.

Key Facts

An estimated 73-100 million sharks are killed annually for their fins for soup
Finning involves removing fins and returning the shark to the water still alive
Without fins, sharks cannot swim and sink to the bottom where they drown or are eaten alive
Shark finning bans have been implemented in many jurisdictions but enforcement is inconsistent
Shark populations have declined over 70% globally since 1970 through finning and bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Shark finning causes one of the most prolonged and clearly distressing deaths in commercial fishing. Sharks returned to the ocean without fins cannot swim, slowly sinking while conscious. This may last hours before death by drowning or predation. The conservation impact of losing apex predators cascades through marine ecosystems. Finning bans with effective enforcement and at-sea observer coverage are essential.

What You Can Do

Never consume shark fin soup or products containing shark fins
Advocate for strong finning bans with at-sea observer enforcement in your jurisdiction
Support international agreements requiring sharks to be landed with fins naturally attached
Donate to shark conservation organizations working on policy and population recovery
Raise awareness about shark finning welfare and conservation impacts in your community