What is shark finning?
Shark Finning is the practice of catching a shark, slicing the sharks fin(s) off, and then dumping the remaining 97% of the animal back into the sea. When the shark is tossed into the ocean, it can suffer for days until it is fully dead. Some will starve to death, get eaten by other marine creatures, many bleed to death, but most will suffocate.
Every second, 3 sharks are slaughtered in this way. That is a horrific total of over 70 million sharks getting violently killed every year, for their fins only. For centuries the Asian culinary world has served a delicacy named Shark Fin Soup. This can easily cost $80 for a single bowl depending on the content. This soup is sold in many countries all over the world.
Thankfully many countries have banned this cruel and unsustainable practice, however many have not which is what conservationists and activists all over the world are trying to change.
Every second, 3 sharks are slaughtered in this way. That is a horrific total of over 70 million sharks getting violently killed every year, for their fins only. For centuries the Asian culinary world has served a delicacy named Shark Fin Soup. This can easily cost $80 for a single bowl depending on the content. This soup is sold in many countries all over the world.
Thankfully many countries have banned this cruel and unsustainable practice, however many have not which is what conservationists and activists all over the world are trying to change.
Facts
- Over 130 countries worldwide engage in the shark finning industry
- Over 80% of shark species are threatened or near threatened by extinction
- Only 3% of the sharks body weight are the fins - so 97% is being wasted
- Indonesia, India, Spain, Taiwan, Argentina, Mexico, Pakistan, United States of America, Japan and Malaysia are the top 10 shark exporters
- Any shark is taken, regardless of size, species or ages
- One pound of dried shark fin can retail for $300 or more. It's a multi-billion dollar industry!