Shark Finning

Finning is wasteful and cruel. © Chris Dascher/istockphoto

Every year, millions of sharks suffer painful deaths from the cruel and wasteful shark fin trade. Whether unintended "bycatch" by or caught specifically for their valuable fins, these animals have their fins removed and then—either dead or dying—are immediately cast back into the water. Shark meat is of low commercial value, so fishers save freezer space for highly valued fish and discard the sharks after the animals are "finned."

The burgeoning market for shark fin soup, a traditional dish in east Asia, is driving this growing practice. But an appetite for soup is contributing to the shocking decline of most large shark species over the past half-century.

As the chief predators of the ocean, sharks play an essential role in the balance of the marine ecosystem. Their overfishing leads to collapsing populations, which—along with that of other large predators—will likely lead to serious consequences for many other ocean species. The effects of shark overfishing are already being seen.

Read more about what Humane Society International is doing to address this issue, and how you can help:

Shark Finning