Shark Finning

Between the years 1996 and 2000 around 26 to 72 million sharks were slaughtered each year for their fins, according to research by the Imperial College London. As of 2010, the number of sharks killed each year by fishing fleets reached upwards of 70 million with 30% of the species killed being classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The coasts of Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Spain and India are the hub for the multi-billion dollar shark fin trade and these coasts account for the majority of the world’s shark fishing grounds, as reported by The Pew Environment Group. Other regions where shark finning occurs includes Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Galapagos Islands. Once the fins are cut from the sharks body, they are shipped to predominantly Asian markets including Taiwan and China.

Shark Finning

The practice of shark finning is abhorred across the world as it involves the painful removal of a shark fins using a knife. Sharks are caught using nets and hooks and are pulled out of their homes in the water. Once onboard the boat, the shark’s fins are sliced from their body, often while the animals are still alive. The bodies, many of them still alive, are then thrown back into the sea leaving the sharks to die a slow and painful death due to blood loss and suffocation. The shark’s fins are the most valuable asset from the shark and can retail for up to $300 USD per pound, making the business of shark finning a lucrative trade.

Shark Fin Soup

Selling for upwards of $100 USD per bowl, shark fin soup is a popular dish in China where it is associated with status and wealth. Due to an increase in prosperity in developing Asian countries like China and Singapore, more and more people are consuming shark fin soup. This is causing the shark fin industry to become unsustainable. The increased demand is placing immense pressure on the already fragile ocean ecosystem, as the removal of the top predator is affecting and will continue to affect thousands of marine species. According to a report by the BBC, the growing demand for shark fin soup in China has led to the illegal slaughtering of 300,000 sharks off the coast of Brazil since 2009.

Hong Kong’s Shark Fin Trade

The IUCN Shark Specialist Group estimates that 50-80% of the world’s trade in shark fins occurs in Hong Kong, where shark fin soup is considered a delicacy reserved for special occasions and for the middle to upper classes. Despite a raised awareness of the illicit global shark fin trade, imports continue to increase at a rate of 6% per annum in Hong Kong. Although there is an increase in imports, a study commissioned by BLOOM Association and conducted by the University of Hong Kong Social Sciences Research Centre found that 78% of 1000 Hong Kong residents found it both ‘very acceptable’ and ‘acceptable’ to not feature shark fin soup on the menu at weddings. This apparent social shift in attitudes towards shark fin soup in Hong Kong offers a challenge to the growing shark fin trade.

Shark Finning Ban

Shark finning is prohibited across the United States, Australia, the Eastern Pacific and the European Union but despite the bans, shark finning still occurs in some instances. Organised crime syndicates continue to fish for sharks in the vast waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans where their activities can go unnoticed by law enforcement agencies. In Australia, the EU and the US, there is one exception to shark finning which allows sharks to be killed for their fins. In this only instance, the carcasses of slaughtered sharks must be brought to shore along with an equal ratio of fins. In 2011, Hawaii became the first US state to completely ban the sale, consumption and distribution of shark fins, adding to the states already impressive list of animal protection legislations. In January 2011, President Obama closed the federal loopholes of the 2000 Shark Finning Prohibition Act by signing the Shark Conservation Act.

Shark Depopulation

Sharks have been a vital part of the ocean ecosystem for over 400 million years and many marine species are co-dependent on sharks for their survival. Within the past 25 years, hammerhead shark populations have declined by 83% in the northwest Atlantic and 70% in the Pacific Ocean. Population numbers of the oceanic whitetip sharks have also declined by a staggering 85% since the 1950’s. Other shark species have declined by up to 90% in some areas as reported by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1990. Sharks are unable to recover from large population losses quickly as their reproduction rates are much slower than that of many marine species. Sharks do not reach sexual maturity as quickly as other species with female great white sharks taking 15 years to mature whilst whale sharks can take 30 years. After mating, female sharks may be pregnant for over a year, meaning that few offspring can be produced from each shark.

Action

Sharks are often depicted as the menace of the ocean, killing humans whenever they see fit. In actuality, sharks account for around 12 human deaths per year which, while tragic, is a tiny figure compared with the number of humans killed by other species including tigers and elephants. Altering our perception of sharks and acknowledging their importance in the ocean ecosystem can lead to better conservation efforts and improved understanding. In order to help combat the growing shark fin trade, individuals can raise awareness of the issue and discourage others from consuming shark fin soup and other shark fin products. Supporting conservation charities like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace will help ensure protection for the many shark species that inhabit the world’s vast oceans.