Insight into the Shark Finning Industry

Written by Carleigh Stokes

Featured photo courtesy of the Shark Research Institute.

Shark finning is a major problem worldwide. This gruesome act involves cutting off a shark’s fins and returning the animal back to the ocean, ultimately leading it to a slow and agonizing death where it either suffocates, bleeds to death, or is eaten by other animals. More must be done to protect these vitally important animals from this cruel and unsustainable practice, as more than 72 million sharks are killed annually for their fins.

Now, you may be wondering: what do these fishermen do once they have the fins? Shark fins are most often used to make shark fin soup. Shark fin soup is an “East Asian dish associated with wealth and festivity.” Its presence at a meal signifies class and symbolizes humanity’s triumph over the shark species. 

These fins taken from live animals can cost up to $500 a pound to be used in shark fin soup. However, the price that comes from selling one shark fin is not nearly as much as the economical benefits sharks share with coastal communities. Tourists flock to highly populated shark areas and bring in much needed income that stabilizes the economy. In places such as the Bahamas, sharks bring in approximately $113.8 million in revenue every year from the shark diving industry.

Not only does the loss of a fin harm and ultimately kill the shark it was taken from, it also harms entire marine ecosystems. Food chains will collapse with the loss of the top predator to keep the balance. This has already been seen in some regions with an increasing ray population, leading to less biodiversity as shown by the decrease in algae in the area.

Shark finning doesn’t discriminate - all species are fair game in the toxic industry. Already endangered species such as hammerhead sharks, which can be found in New York, are at an even greater risk as another complication from sharks losing their fins is their inability to repopulate.

The United States passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 which “requires that all sharks in the United States … be brought to shore with their fins naturally attached.” Coastal states, including New York, continue to  actively seek to change laws to further protect sharks, especially from the threats associated with shark finning.

Reach out to your local and state legislation to show support for laws made to protect these marine species. We must advocate for regulations put in place to protect these animals that cannot speak up for themselves. Check in from time to time with local restaurants to see if they offer shark fin soup and contact local authorities if they do. The first step to conservation is education and by educating yourself and others, we can help stop this barbaric industry from spreading and cease its existence altogether.

Carleigh Stokes is an intern at AMSEAS working with our Business and Public Relations team.

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society