The Green Timberwolf

Global Shark Finning

By. Rebecca and Aimee

Shark finning occurs all over the world and has led to the endangerment of many species of sharks including the scalloped hammerhead and the smooth hammerhead. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed just for their fins every year and shark populations have decreased by 90% because of the shark fin trade.

Sharks are typically finned for delicacies including shark fin soup. These types of meals are typically bought in countries such as China and Vietnam. Shark fins attract tourists, and are common meals among locals. Shark fins are amongst the most expensive seafood and bring a lot of money to the fishers. Though economically satisfying, shark finning does nothing to benefit any environmental aspects.

Not only does shark finning negatively affect the shark population, but it is very inhumane. Many times the sharks fins will be discarded, and they will be helplessly released back into the ocean, eventually sinking because they can no longer swim.

Many countries have put a ban on the removal of shark finning, while allowing the hunting of full sharks to continue. Though this is not entirely effective in order to help the shark species as shark populations have sunk so low that they will need years in order to repopulate.

So what can we do to help? We must acknowledge the problem in order to save these species. Many world foundations have taken it upon themselves to put a direct focus on the ban of shark finning. These foundations include…

>Humane Society International

>WildAid

>Sea Shepherd

Overall, we must acknowledge the problem in order to save sharks, and although it's not happening right here in Canada, it doesn't mean are voices or efforts go unnoticed.

References:

Waters, Hannah. “Good-Bye Gillnet, Hello Shark Recovery!” Ocean Portal | Smithsonian, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, 26 Oct. 2017, ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/good-bye-gillnet-hello-shark-recovery.