The Sharkives

US Shark Fin Soup Appalling and Widespread

EU Ends Shark Finning

Costa Rica passes ban on taking of shark fins

Costa Rica on Wednesday passed a blanket ban on shark finning, in which the fins are sliced off sharks, often while they are alive, before the fish are thrown back into the ocean to die.

mad-as-a-marine-biologist:

Dear Cathay Pacific,

 I applaud you for your decision to ban the transport of shark fin products on your carriers and subsidiary airline Dragon Air.

Anti-shark fin campaigners estimated that you flew 50% of the air cargo trade into Hong Kong each year, equating up to 650 tonnes of shark fins. You claimed it was less than this, but no matter how much it was, you’ve stopped. Thank you.

Whether it’s because of the petition that was signed in July, or your years of research into the matter, you’ve stopped. Thank you.

Your decision means that you’ve restricted the availability of shark fin products in Hong Kong and mainland China. It means you are part of many companies that are helping to turn the tide against the unsustainable shark fin industry. Once again, thank you.  

Yours sincerely,

Everyone (because saving sharks is saving ourselves).  

UK minister swims in tank of sharks to highlight campaign against ‘finning’ ...

Well done! Keep it up, Mr. Benyon.

In the Soup, A Dash of Biodiversity

A couple of interesting points come out of this article in the New York Times on shark fin soup … The first is that 

None of the species found in the soups are on the United States Endangered Species List or are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

The second is this rather optimistic statement bby one of the authors of the study referred to in the article:

“If the trade was better regulated and shark fishing was more tightly regulated, I don’t think anyone would have a problem with shark fin soup,” Dr Chapman said.

I think that’s misguided, at best. The shark fin trade, regulated or not, is barbaric. Period.

Shark washes up with fins slashed off

Help stop shark finning. Now.

An investigation is under way on the NSW north coast after a critically endangered grey nurse shark washed ashore with its fins slashed off.

Fisheries officers have searched boats and buildings and interviewed fishermen since the mutilated and dying shark was found on a beach near Evans Head last week.

The grey nurse, a rare young breeding female, had both dorsal fins removed. Only about 1000 to 1500 grey nurse sharks survive off eastern Australia.

Shark Angels

I cannot emphasize enough the fantastic and vital work Shark Angels are doing on behalf of sharks. Check out their website and get educated, and involved.

stop shark finning 

Emerging whale shark 'crisis' in China

A study involving Murdoch University and Shandong University at Weihai has found distressing trends in the catch and trade of threatened whale sharks in China.

Results indicate whale sharks are increasingly being targeted due to high demand for large shark fins and a rising appetite for shark meat in general.

Around the Table: Shark's Fin, Whale Meat and the Questionable Ethics of Taste

But the fishy, bloody stench of whale meat? Bland, gooey strips from a mutilated shark? There’s no accounting for personal preference, but I find it hard to imagine that these are really flavors we crave.

Chinese-Americans Challenge Shark Fin Ban

Here we go….

The Truth About Sharks

An average of 65 people worldwide are injured by the ocean’s top predator each year—with only two or three deaths—but up to 73 million sharks are killed annually by people. Most of them die when fishermen slice off their fins to sell, primarily to Asian markets as a soup ingredient.

The Shark Fin Trade

Stop it. Now.