In recent years, the welfare of sharks has garnered more consideration. However, since the 1970s, we’ve seen over a 70% decrease in shark species and more than a third are facing extinction. Much of this can be attributed to overfishing, bycatch, and the shark fin trade, which is largely fueled by China’s consumption of shark […]
Tag: shark fins
Petition: Urge Facebook to Enforce Policies to End Wildlife Trafficking
Despite Facebook’s promises to fight the illegal wildlife trafficking industry, it persists and continues to profit from the imprisonment and neglect of helpless animals. A recent report by Avaaz claims that Facebook remains a popular platform for cruel animal traffickers. The researchers found that Facebook’s algorithms “help criminals grow their business.” It should not be […]
Nearly 400 Illegal Shark Fins Seized From Texas Seafood Restaurant
Nearly 400 illegal shark fins were found in a Texas restaurant after officials developed a lead, despite the state’s ban on the sale and possession of shark fins. Texas game wardens pursued a lead about possible illegal shark meat at a restaurant in San Antonio seafood restaurant. In a heartbreaking discovery, they found 381 whole […]
Pet food for cats and dogs being sold containing endangered sharks
Unwitting owners are feeding endangered sharks to their cats and dogs, according to a new study. Scientists discovered that numerous brands contained endangered species but simply specified nonspecific components like “ocean fish,” implying that most customers are unaware. “We believe the majority of pet owners are likely to be nature enthusiasts, and we believe most […]
Hawaii leads the way by becoming the first state to ban shark fishing
Sharks are disappearing at an alarming rate, largely due to shark fishing and being victims of bycatch. Humans need sharks, but there are few laws that protect them. In 2011, the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 was signed into law, but that only prohibited the finning of sharks – it was still legal to fish […]
New bill seeks to end Hong Kong’s days as an illegal wildlife trade hub
In 2019, Hong Kong customs authorities inspected a cargo ship bound for Vietnam. Hidden beneath slabs of frozen meat were 8.3 metric tons of illegal scales from about 13,800 pangolins, and more than 2.1 metric tons of tusks from about 200 elephants, with a combined value of about $8 million. This was one of the […]
Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act Reintroduced in Congress
Good news! On April 22, 2021, Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D- MP) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) reintroduced the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act. A previous version of this bill passed the House of Representatives in November of 2019 with a 310-107 majority. Unfortunately, the companion bill, introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Shelly […]
Sharks on a knife’s edge as Maldives mulls lifting 10-year fishing ban
It’s not easy to find sharks these days. Just ask Demian Chapman, a marine scientist who leads Global FinPrint, a project that assesses shark populations on reefs worldwide. But he says there is a spot where they’re often found: the Maldives, a tiny nation of islands speckled in the Indian Ocean. “The Maldives is a […]