Shark finning refers to the removal of shark fins, while the remains of the shark is discarded back into the ocean; while often still alive, because it has no fin the Shark can not swim effectively so it will either sink to the bottom of the ocean and die of suffocation or eaten by predators. Shark finning at sea enables fishing vessels to increase profit and can increase the numbers of sharks that are harvested for their fins, as they only have to transport the fin, which is the most profitable part of the shark; but this means that they kill more sharks, because their vessels can then transport more because they don’t have the full weight of a Shark to carry. Some countries have banned this and require that the whole shark should be transported and be brought back to a port before being de-finned. But the fact that this is allowed is a disgrace; for most species of shark are endangered or vulnerable according to their conservation statuses.
Shark finning has increased since 1997 largely due to the increasing demand for Shark fins for things such as shark fin soup and traditional cures.The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s shark specialist group has said that shark finning is one of the most serious threats to shark populations. The estimates of shark fin trading businesses are between US$540 million to US$1.2 billion (2007). In the US Shark finning is prohibited, some regard the whale shark and basking shark as trophy species and are $10,000 to $20,000 for a fin.
Shark specialists have estimated that 100 million sharks die annually for their fins, so that those who like to collect parts of animals can say they own a shark fin that cost a shark its life, for know good reason.
