Shark finning is the practice of removing fins from sharks and discarding the rest of the shark, often while it is still alive, back into the ocean. The finless shark is unable to swim effectively, causing it to sink, suffocate, or be eaten by other predators, resulting in a slow and painful death
. This practice is driven by the high value of shark fins, which are primarily used in shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese delicacy symbolizing status and believed to have medicinal properties. The fins can sell for hundreds of dollars per kilogram, making them far more profitable than the bulky shark meat
. Shark finning is widely condemned because it is wasteful, inhumane, and unsustainable. It leads to the killing of tens of millions of sharks annually—estimates range from 73 to 100 million sharks killed each year—and threatens many shark species with extinction, disrupting marine ecosystems where sharks are top predators
. Many countries have banned shark finning or require that sharks be landed with fins naturally attached to prevent the practice. However, enforcement is challenging, and illegal finning persists globally due to the lucrative market for fins
. In summary, shark finning is the cruel and wasteful removal of shark fins at sea, leaving the rest of the shark to die, primarily to supply the market for shark fin soup, which has severe ecological and ethical consequences worldwide
