The trade in shark fins is still underway in the United States, despite legislation making such activities illegal, an investigative report has found. Environmentalists say this indicates that officials need to do more to enforce the laws already in place to stamp out illegal activities and protect sharks, which are globally threatened with extinction. On […]
Tag: shark fins
Major wins for sharks and other wild animals in key legislative package
There have been some massive wins for animals recently in the U.S., as the Congress acts to pass some protections we’ve been championing for years. Right on the heels of the Big Cat Public Safety Act’s resounding passage, two additional animal protection measures were wrapped into the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes funding levels […]
Authorities Investigate Florida Companies Involved in Shark Fin Trade
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 […]
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 […]