An illegal shipment of 1,400 pounds of dried shark fins, estimated to be worth around $1 million, has been discovered at a port in Miami.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that officials found the fins packed into 18 boxes, which were believed to have originated in South America. The body parts were likely en route to Asia, where they’re primarily used in “luxury” shark fin soup.
This falsely declared shipment violated the Lacey Act, which bans illegal wildlife trade, and also contravened the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). No criminal charges have been announced, but an investigation is ongoing.
The vile shark fin trade is responsible for the gruesome deaths of up to 73 million sharks annually through “finning,” or the act of severing the fins from a shark and simply dumping the body back into the sea. Unable to swim without their fins, the sharks are left to sink and suffocate, bleed to death, or be eaten alive. This disgraceful practice is illegal in U.S. waters, but importing the fins is not.
“The seizure in Miami of 1,400 pounds of shark fins being shipped from Latin America to Asia speaks to the worldwide crisis facing sharks,” Sara Amundson, President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, told CBS News. “The United States plays a key role as an international transit hub for shark fins … Sharks are worth more alive than in a bowl of soup.”
Lady Freethinker’s petition to ban the cruel shark fin trade in the U.S. has reached over 22,440 signatures. Thank you to all who have signed. If you haven’t added your name yet, please do to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, saving millions of sharks who are being inhumanely slaughtered for their fins.
This horror must end now!
Stop this torture!!!
HELL on EARTH for animals because of ASIAN trade. SHAME! STOP IT!
Sharks cannot survive without their fins!!! Please ban this practice and punish violators to the maximum allowed by law! If that doesn’t stop them, increase the penalty until it does stop them !!!
I ban this torture!!!
What a horrifying photo…all those lives exterminated. The human race sucks.
Sharks will go extinct if this gruesome killing and finning of sharks continues. Please see that legislation is passed to ban each and every aspect of this horrific trade!
Yes, we are in here for animals! and yet no need for racist comment
Imagine if the Chinese were actually human beings?
There are humans that have a disproportionate view of cruelty- this is not survival for them, its just cruelty and quick money.These animals are not Theirs to torture and murder.
we don’y have enough empathic leaders in this world giving humane examples of taking care of this planet-
Cruelty laws against all animals need to be considered for this Global Warming planet.
La haien i fred!!!
La haien i fred!!!
moche
Stopp dyreplageri NÅ!!
La haier i fred, stopp misbruk!!!
La haier i fred, stopp misbruk!!!
All this just so rich people can buy expensive shark 🦈🦈 fin soup!! 😡😠🤬
This cruel mutilation and murder of then defenseless sharks has got to stop. We can live without delicacies!!!! It is disgusting that people continue to eat these “fins” as some kind of delicacy. To eat even one shark fin you have killed a living being and left it to a cruel death by drowning or being unable to defend itself from other predators. I’m beginning to think that a shark’s live is more valuable than the idiot that is eating the fin.
This must be investigated and the perpetrators punished.
When does it stop, when there are no more sharks??????