A new study by researchers from the University of Hong Kong, the Sea Around Us initiative at the University of British Columbia and WildAid Hong Kong, reveals that the decline in shark populations is directly attributed to “wealthy consumers’ growing appetite for fin soup,” according to a new study published in the journal, Marine Policy.
“Sea Around Us data show that shark catches amount to approximately 1.4 million tons per year, more than double of what they were six decades ago. This overexploitation has led to a situation in which almost 60 percent of shark species are threatened, the highest proportion among all vertebrate groups,” said Yvonne Sadovy, lead author of the study and professor at the University of Hong Kong.
Because of this, researchers said that it is urgent for consumers to stop demanding shark fin products.
Over the past several years, dozens of countries have adopted bans on shark fishing. However, given the prevalence of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, and the fact that most countries still do not ban finning, the practice continues globally. Faced with challenges such as poor enforcement, accidental catch, inadequate laws, and criminal activity, the researchers call for adopting the precautionary principle and halting the consumption and trade in all shark fin.
“The global shark fin industry is rife with criminal activity and cannot be trusted to police itself effectively. Ensuring truly sustainable shark fisheries and shark fin trade remain a far-off pipe dream. Simply put, around a quarter of all shark species are hurtling towards extinction. As our paper clearly shows, the only real way to protect sharks is to adopt the precautionary principle and halt the consumption and trade in all shark fin. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s irresponsible restaurant sector – including Maxim’s Catering Limited, should refrain from selling and serving shark fin immediately which is directly contributing to the endangerment of shark species”, said study co-author Alex Hofford, a wildlife campaigner for WildAid in Hong Kong.
The study found that over 25,000 tons of dried shark fins originate from largely unsustainable, and and often illegal fisheries.
“Shark finning and the mixing of catches tend to take place in the open seas or in remote ports, where there is little to no oversight,” said co-author Dr. Daniel Pauly, Principal Investigator with the Sea Around Us at UBC. “Moreover, authorities show little interest in controlling illegal wildlife trade, including that in shark fins. Even if they do, their enforcement capabilities are very limited because they cannot inspect and run DNA tests on every single fin that arrives at their customs to determine the area where the shark was caught, or even determine the species.”