No shark conservation blog is complete without a discussion of what's being done to stop shark "finning" -- the wasteful and indefensible practice of slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body back to the sea. Shark fins are in high demand for "shark fin soup," which is considered a status symbol in Asia. Shark finning has been banned by many (still not most) fishing nations and by most international fisheries bodies, but the means used to enforce the bans vary widely. Ocean Conservancy has been working with groups like the Pew Environment Group (www.pewtrusts.org) and the Humane Society (www.hsus.org) to strengthen U.S rules on shark finning.
Most shark scientists and conservationists agree that the best way to ensure an end to finning is to prohibit the removal of shark fins at sea. This "fins-attached" strategy takes the guesswork out of enforcement and can help in identification of species caught. Costa Rica has been a champion of this method, thanks in large part to the conservation group Pretoma (www.tortugamarina.org). Most finning bans, however, are still enforced through a complicated fin to body weight ratio.
The "fins-attached" strategy is now at last gaining momentum. It was encouraged by the United Nations last fall and will take effect for U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico fisheries on July 24. Over the last few months, thanks to Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, the U.S. House of Representatives developed and adopted a bill to prohibit the removal of shark fins at sea, close other loopholes in the national finning law, and encourage shark conservation in other countries. For the bill to become law, the Senate needs to take similar action. You can help by contacting your senator and expressing your support for a stronger U.S. finning ban. With improved national legislation, the U.S. will be well positioned to press for stronger finning bans and shark conservation programs around the world.
PHOTO: Fisherman holding knife and dorsal fin from hammerhead shark. (Photo by Jeff Rotman/ Getty Images )
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Let's hope EU will follow the US regarding shark finning regulations.
Posted by: David Bernvi | July 22, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Just heard that in Taiwan, the National Palace Museum has agreed to stop serving shark fin soup in its major banquet hall (unfortunately it will still be on the regular menu). This is a groundbreaking step in a country where demand for and price of shark fins is very high, which results in a lot of finning to feed this demand.
Posted by: Becky | July 23, 2008 at 11:00 AM
The only way to stop shark finning and save the sharks is to address the demand side of the problem. Someone should sponsor a clinical study (and widely disseminate the results) to link shark fin soup consumption to male erectile dysfunction and low sperm count or something. Writing your congressman will not help.
Posted by: Yuri | July 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM
is there anyway that we can help stop this??? one of my favorite animals is deffinantly a shark i think they are better than any other animal. couldn't you write a letter to the president to ask him to stop this?
Posted by: ashley | July 27, 2008 at 06:59 PM
is there anyway that we can help stop this??? one of my favorite animals is deffinantly a shark i think they are better than any other animal. couldn't you write a letter to the president to ask him to stop this?
Posted by: ashley | July 27, 2008 at 06:59 PM
thats just horrable!!!!its cruel and un-humain
Posted by: lindsey | July 28, 2008 at 10:52 PM
It's unbearable to actually see this happening. I've always had a passion for sharks and I am really going to try to help them by increasing the chance of this bill being passed.
Posted by: Katie | July 28, 2008 at 10:56 PM
i've loved sharks and been fascinated by them since i was a little kid. i hate hearing stories about people killing them and fishing for them just to kill them. i was just wondering if there was anythinh i can do to help? any organizations to donate to? anything??? please email me if it isnt too much trouble
luv2run87@yahoo.com
Posted by: tracy | August 01, 2008 at 01:03 PM
My Name is Allyson. I have no interesting ways to fend off sharks or any scary shark encounters but I do have some things that link me close to sharks and even closer to shark week on discovery channel. When I was little, around 4 years old, I saw my first shark week. From the moment I saw the tails, colors, body shapes, and even hunting methods, sharks became my fave animal and the only thiang that would make me feel better about my divorced parents. Sharks fascinated me and when I heard that people thought of them as man eaters and killed them, I became compelled to save them. I am a water freak and always jump in the pool before feeling the water. Sharks are like my unrealated brothers and sisters. I am 12 years old now and hate the fact that sow but steady global climate change and heartless people threaten to take away the things I hold so dear to my heart. The first time isaw and interacted with a shark i was 5 and I was swimming and interacting with a 15 foot greatwhite in the open waters of the pacific. I know it is hard to believe, but it is true. I wasnt even wearing protection in the chummy waters. Then I found out that sharks really do need our help now more than ever. You have to choices: Ignore the sharks cry for help or help out as much as possible. Like karry from mythbusters said, 'its no myth that sharks need our help.' Please reach out a helping hand to the natural balancers of the ocean, and give a helping hand.
Posted by: Allyson | August 03, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Update to my earlier comment: soon after I posted that, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan removed shark fin soup from ALL its menus!
Posted by: Becky | August 04, 2008 at 04:59 PM
ithink that people have no feelings. they live to. we just need to deal with it. they were hear frist. how would we feel if sharks cut of our lims.
Posted by: courtney | August 11, 2008 at 01:37 AM
I have always loved sharks but only recently became aware of the extent of shark overfishing and its impact on the ocean's ecology. I manage an online community called OurWorld (www.ourworldcommunity.ning.com) that focuses on sharing ideas to promote socially and environmentally responsible business practices using our purchasing and investing power. I would love to know more about what ordinary people can do to help solve this problem. Please feel free to share your thoughts here:
http://ourworldcommunity.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2005022%3ABlogPost%3A4461
Posted by: Jeff | August 17, 2008 at 03:28 AM
I was unaware about many things that were happening to sharks until I ran across the game Shark Runners 2 online. Once I started playing the game I also started to learn in real life about the tiger and grey sharks in the game and then studied about others as well. Many things that happen to sharks such as kill tourn.'s make me feel sorry about human nature. Instead of using our ability to learn from and respect those in nature that we would rather kill and dominate than try to understand. The act of finning should be banned and the United States should apply pressure to those countries who not only allow the finning to take place, but also the serving of shark fin soup. Just because someone was brought up in a culture saying this is ok does not make it right. If we do not take a stand on behalf of those in nature who are being pressured from overfishing or flat out killing we will wake up one day to find out it is too late to do anything once they are gone. We cannot allow this treatment of sharks to continue.
Posted by: Joe Bowles | December 23, 2008 at 07:59 AM
That is truly awful to see animals hunted for just a small amount of food, truly awful.
Fred Smilek
Email- Fred_Smilek@yahoo.com
Webpage- http://sites.google.com/site/fredjsmilek/
Fred Smilek is the acting president of the Society to Save Endangered Species. It was founded two years ago by Fred Smilek along with his two best friends Charles and Jonathan.
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