Shark Finning: What It Is and Why It Matters

Have you heard the term “shark finning” but aren’t quite sure what it means—or why it matters? I didn’t always fully understand it either. But before we get there, let me start with what first drew me to sharks.

When I was young, I would count down the days and hours until Shark Week began. I was ready to learn about the impressive great white, the cunning mako, the assertive bull shark, and the majestic whale shark. Constantly in awe of their power and presence, I watched every minute I could—trying to understand the mysterious ocean world and these ancient beings who ruled it.

But even then, one thing became painfully clear: sharks were in trouble. Shark finning—the practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea—is one of the key drivers of their decline. Each year, an estimated 100 million sharks are killed by humans, many of them just for their fins. That’s over 11,000 sharks per hour, erased from an ecosystem that cannot function without them.

Sharks aren’t defined by the shark attacks often shown during Shark Week these days. They’re so much more than something to fear. Sharks are apex predators, but they aren’t separate from us. Sharks are beings who feel, and they’re a part of the vital ocean ecosystem that keeps the planet healthy. And even though they’ve managed to be here for over 400 million years, humans have become their apex predator in the last several decades.

In 2020, a landmark study found that 77% of assessed oceanic shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. Sharks are overfished, exploited, and often discarded alive—especially in the global shark fin trade. And unless we intervene, some species may vanish in our lifetime.

What is Shark Finning?

Shark finning is the act of cutting off a shark’s fins and throwing the rest of the body back into the ocean, often while the shark is still alive. Without their fins, sharks can’t swim. They sink, suffocate, or are eaten by predators. All of this happens so that their fins can be sold for profit, usually to be used in shark fin soup, a dish considered a delicacy in parts of Asia.

This practice is not only incredibly cruel, it’s also wasteful. A shark’s entire body is discarded just for a small portion that fetches a high price. Because fins are sold dried, frozen, or by weight—without any species label—nearly all shark species are at risk. A fin is a fin, whether it comes from a hammerhead, a great white, or a threatened deep-sea species.

And here’s what makes it worse: sharks must keep swimming to breathe. They rely on a constant flow of water over their gills to get oxygen. When their fins are removed, they’re no longer able to move or force water through their gills. It’s a slow, painful death—one repeated millions of times each year.

“Finning” isn’t a byproduct. It is the goal. And it’s happening across the globe, often without regulation or oversight.

Shark Finning Statistics

Each year, humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks—many just for their fins. Despite the scale of this destruction, shark finning remains one of the least regulated practices in global fishing. That’s over 11,000 sharks per hour, or roughly 3 sharks killed every second.

Some oceanic shark populations have declined by 60–70% due to targeted fishing and bycatch.

• Of 31 large shark and ray species studied, 77% are now threatened with extinction.
• More than 100 shark species are on the IUCN Red List, yet fewer than half have global protections or trade restrictions in place.

Despite these numbers, shark finning remains poorly regulated. In many parts of the world, there are no catch limits, no species tracking, and no meaningful enforcement. Sharks are suffering in silence, disappearing by the millions to fuel a luxury market that prioritizes profit over biodiversity.

How Many Sharks do Humans Kill a Year

It’s difficult to know the exact number, but most estimates fall between 63 million and 273 million sharks killed by humans annually. The most widely cited average is around 100 million sharks per year, but the real total could be far higher. Much of this killing happens under the radar: through bycatch in industrial fishing, illegal shark finning, and unreported small-scale trades.

Because shark fins are lightweight and often detached from the bodies, they’re easy to smuggle and hard to trace. And many countries don’t require species labeling or tracking, making it nearly impossible to account for how many sharks are caught or killed.

Every fin in a market stall represents a shark who’s no longer part of the ocean. And without sharks, the entire marine food web begins to collapse.

Why Do People Take Shark’s Fins?

The short answer? Profit. Shark fins are one of the most expensive seafood products in the world, often sold to make shark fin soup—a luxury dish traditionally served at weddings, banquets, and business events in parts of Asia. Once reserved for royalty, it’s now more widely available thanks to rising income levels and a globalized wildlife trade.

Because the fins alone are valuable, sharks are often killed only for that small part, while the rest of the body is discarded at sea. This wasteful practice isn’t just cruel, it’s ecologically devastating.

A single bowl of shark fin soup can sell for $50 to $100. Multiply that by millions of bowls, and it becomes clear why the market is so relentless.

It’s not just one species being targeted, either. Finning operations don’t discriminate—any shark, of any age or size, can be caught and killed. That includes endangered species, nursing mothers, and young sharks who haven’t yet reproduced.

And it’s not just sharks who suffer. The methods used to catch them, like longlines and gillnets, also trap sea turtles, rays, dolphins, and other marine animals as unintentional bycatch.

How Much Do Shark Fins Cost?

The single most valuable part of the shark? Its fins. On global markets, fins commonly retail for around $400–$450 per pound, making shark fins among the priciest seafood items by weight.

• In many Asian countries, a bowl of shark fin soup sells for $50–$100, with some upscale restaurants charging even more.
• Specialty markets report fins from select species fetching $10,000–$20,000 per fin, depending on size and rarity.

The economics are stark: fishermen can haul back only fins, leaving the rest of the shark to rot at sea—all to maximize profit. No wonder shark finning is so widespread, despite its cruelty and ecological consequences.

We Need Sharks To Survive and Thrive

Sharks aren’t just impressive, they’re essential. As apex predators, sharks sit at the top of the marine food web, helping to regulate the species below them. When they disappear, that balance collapses. Prey populations spike, biodiversity drops, and entire ecosystems begin to unravel.

Unlike many fish, sharks grow slowly and reproduce infrequently, which means they can’t bounce back quickly from overfishing. When they’re killed in the millions, the damage isn’t just immediate—it’s generational.

Without sharks, coral reefs can degrade. Seagrass beds vanish. Commercial fish stocks collapse. The ripple effects reach all the way to land.

The cruelty of shark finning mirrors what we see in factory farming on land—debeaking chickens, tail-docking pigs, or dehorning cows, all for human convenience and profit. In the ocean, the exploitation is just as violent, but often invisible.

We can’t have healthy oceans without sharks. And without healthy oceans, life on this planet becomes a lot more fragile.

How Do We Protect Sharks from Extinction?

Sharks have survived for more than 400 million years, but in just a few decades, humans have pushed many species to the brink. While this practice is banned in some parts of the world, laws vary widely by country, and enforcement is often weak or nonexistent.

In the U.S., the shark finning ban has been in place since 2000, but loopholes and inconsistencies persist. Only a handful of states have banned the sale of shark fins outright, and the global trade continues to funnel fins through ports and markets with little oversight.

The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 tried to close some of those loopholes, but without a national sales ban, demand is still driving supply.

Outside the U.S., many countries have no catch limits, no requirements to bring sharks ashore whole, and no trade restrictions at all. International waters are even harder to regulate, allowing finning to continue unchecked in vast stretches of ocean.

Protecting sharks requires more than patchwork laws. It means coordinated global action, stronger enforcement, and real political will.

In 2022, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act was signed into U.S. law, making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess shark fins nationwide. After years of stalled efforts, this federal ban finally closed a major loophole in American wildlife policy, helping to reduce the country’s role in the global fin trade.

But enforcement and awareness still lag behind. While the law bans trade, it doesn’t automatically stop the flow of illegally sourced fins through black markets or mislabeling. That’s why continued advocacy, international pressure, and transparent supply chains are still critical, because a law on paper means little if it isn’t upheld in practice.

How Can We End Shark Finning?

Ending shark finning requires more than awareness; it takes a combination of strong laws, global cooperation, and consumer action. There’s no single fix, but together, these solutions can turn the tide:

• Push for stronger laws. Sign petitions, contact representatives, and support organizations advocating for stricter bans on shark fin sales, not just finning itself. Demand fuels supply, and laws make a difference.
• Support international protections. Follow and share efforts by groups backing treaties like CITES, which help regulate shark trade across borders. Awareness helps drive political will.
• Skip seafood. With so many great vegan seafood options, it’s easier than ever to go fish-free. Fewer seafood sales = fewer fins in markets.
• Talk about it. Most people still don’t know what shark finning is. Share what you’ve learned. Awareness spreads pressure, especially when it’s personal.
• Choose travel that protects sharks. If you’re visiting coastal areas, look for ecotourism companies that promote shark conservation rather than exploitation.
• Support fin-free businesses. Eat at restaurants that refuse to serve shark fin soup. Encourage stores to drop shark products. Let them know you care—and you’re paying attention.

We’ve pushed sharks to the edge. But with sustained effort, we can protect what’s left and give these animals and the oceans they support a fighting chance.

How To Take Action for Sharks

Laws take time. But while we wait for stronger protections, there’s a lot you can do right now to help stop shark finning and protect these vital marine animals:

• Raise awareness. Share this article or talk with friends and family about the realities of shark finning—many people still don’t know it happens.
• Watch and share Stella’s story. Our animated short film Stella the Shark (see below) introduces kids and adults alike to shark finning in a non-graphic, deeply moving way.
• Leave seafood off your plate. Commercial fishing is one of the biggest threats to marine life. Our vegan seafood guide and these vegan seafood recipes can help you explore delicious, ocean-friendly options.
• Support shark conservation groups. Donate to or follow organizations like WildAid, Sea Shepherd, or Shark Allies doing critical work on the ground and in policy.

Change starts with awareness—but it only works if it’s followed by action. Together, we can turn compassion into protection.

Shark Finning “Draw My Life” Video

Some videos are too graphic to watch. But Stella the Shark’s story is different. In this animated short film, we dive beneath the surface to explore shark finning through a shark’s eyes—with no blood, no violence, and no horror. Just truth, heart, and a message that sticks.

This educational shark video tells the story of Stella, an independent hammerhead who glides through the ocean, unaware of the danger above. When she swims beneath a shark-finning vessel, her life changes forever, and so does the viewer’s understanding of what’s at stake.

Watch it. Share it. Every shark like Stella has a story.

FAQs

Protecting Sharks Starts With Us

Shark finning isn’t just a crisis for sharks; it’s a crisis for our oceans. The more we understand what’s happening, the more power we have to protect what’s left. Together, we can speak up, show up, and help bring an end to shark finning—for the sake of sharks, the sea, and all who depend on it.