Approximately 73 million sharks are killed annually just for their fins.
Twelve states have banned the use of shark fins and similar bills are pending in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida.
Nevertheless, the Animal Welfare Institute says that as many as 200 restaurants throughout the U.S. are ignoring the law by continuing to serve dishes like shark fin soup, a traditional East Asian dish eaten at celebrations.
Although California is one of the states that has banned the possession, sale or trade of shark fins, AWI found 59 restaurants still serving them there. New York has a similar ban, yet 19 restaurants in the state were found to violate the law.
“The United States is a major producer, exporter and trade stop for shark fins,” said Cathy Liss, president of AWI. “Clearly, the existing patchwork of state laws and uneven enforcement have failed to shut down a lucrative billion-dollar industry. When shark fin soup is on the menu, so is animal cruelty.”
Shark finning is the inherently cruel act of cutting off a shark’s fins while the animal is still alive, its mutilated body tossed back into the ocean to suffocate, bleed out or suffer predator attack.
Not only is shark finning inhumane, but the massive industry is pushing many shark species towards extinction and, in the process, upsetting the delicate balance in marine ecosystems. Sharks are apex predators who are vital to maintaining a functioning marine ecosystem.
Fifteen of the 16 warm-water flat shark species are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation, who report population drops of more than 80 percent over the last 30-45 years due to overfishing and shark finning.
In a landmark move last month, Canada banned all imports and exports of shark fins. The United States has the power to do the same.
A federal bill entitled the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2019 would make it illegal to possess, buy or sell shark fins or any product containing them throughout the country. A Lady Freethinker petition supporting this bill has already garnered more than 20,000 signatures.
Please sign to add your voice in protecting sharks from cruelty and extinction.
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This is horrible whoever thought of doing this to live sharks are barbaric,to cut off fins off a live creature so it drowns should have their arms and legs cut off,See how they like drowning without being able to swim.
The people who participate in these canned hunts or despicable!!! They all need to get a life and stop taking others lives…
There is absolutely no excuse for this wanton waste of an animal or of a food item in total.
Tierschutz überall durchsetzen.
I hope it chokes them all.
Shark finning is the inherently cruel act of cutting off a shark’s fins while the animal is still alive, its mutilated body tossed back into the ocean to suffocate, bleed out or suffer predator attack.
Not only is shark finning inhumane, but the massive industry is pushing many shark species towards extinction and, in the process, upsetting the delicate balance in marine ecosystems. Sharks are apex predators who are vital to maintaining a functioning marine ecosystem.
Fifteen of the 16 warm-water flat shark species are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation, who report population drops of more than 80 percent over the last 30-45 years due to overfishing and shark finning.
Please stop serving shark fins at your restaurant. Thank you!
Stop abuse of animals. They have the right to co-exist with us on earth!
they should effing choke on it
DEBERÍAN CORTARLES EL PENE A QUIENES COMETAN TAL ATROCIDAD
Don’t people realize that all of this cruelty is creating a mass extinction? What are you doing?
All those who are involved in this atrocity or consume the soup should have their arms and legs cut off and be thrown in the ocean. Eye for an eye is the only fair justice!
This is inexcusable! There is no reason for these lives to be disrespected!!
OMG!!! THIS IS SO FREAKING HORRIBLE ,,,, STOP THIS “EVIL ACT” ASAP!!! EVIL BEINGS “MUST BE” PUNISHED ……. KARMA !!
Ban shark fin soup. This is cruel. There are many vegetarian soups that do not use animals that are nice. Sharks and all animals must be protected. Sharks, did you know, are not vicious, like the way movies ,Jaws, shows. There is one explorer and a group of people that has shown that sharks are gentle, and like human contact. All animals are deserving of protection because they are living the earth like we do.
People responsile need to be punished severely!
WAKE UP & RESPECT LIFE!
Terrible cruelty!
Stop this abuse! Save all our creatures!
Stop this horrific abuse,torture and murder of animals now! The whole country is watching.
Sometimes I feel ashamed to be human when I see the amount of cruelty that goes on everywhere.
Words fail me!!!
Please bring an end to shark fin soup!! Stop this cruelty to sharks.
Why isn’t the law against this type of behavior being enforced? If the responsibility of enforcement falls to the lazy, murderous Wildlife, Fish, and Game department, it’s no wonder why the laws are being broken and hundreds of sharks are murdered for their fins. I’m very proud of Canada for banning all imports and exports of shark fins. Now I hope they’ll work on a law protecting seals from the bludgeoning deaths done to them by vile Neanderthals. Nevertheless, I hold my breath of the USA having a ban like Canada given the current political atmosphere that allows trophy hunting.
Shame on those supporting the shark fin industry.
Its just wrong.. What good could come from you eating something that was gotten in such a cruel and evil manner? You’re gonna get ass cancer!
Statewide BANS? WHO enforces? Heavily FINE the suppliers! Heavily FINE the restaurants! STOP PATRONIZING THESE RESTAURANTS! DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS!
When will we embrace life and beauty in others ( species and people ) and stop destroying and killing?
Enough is enough. Animals have feelings too.
When will we embrace life and beauty in others ( species and people ) and stop destroying and killing?
Enough is enough. Animals have feelings too.
DISGRACEFUL !
Causing an agonizing death to another living creature for a bowl of soup? Some people are just evil.
Shark fun soup, is like eating shit!
I pray need stop cut fins no more they need stop never leave fish there police should tell them or fines or jail Send me email see what going on thank yu
Can someone please tell me why we need this soup? Will the world end if it doesnt exist anymore???????
This is wanton and disgraceful! When will humans learn not to eat living creatures?
This world is full of pathetic and cruel people whose selfishness is without measure.
Do you REALLY NEED this soup! — REALLY! — so much food on our menus and we MUST — SADISTICALLY KILL our Sharks? — LEAVE the SHARKS ALONE — this is SHAMEFUL, COWARDLY and IMMORAL — STOP YOUR UNCONSCIONABLE DEPRAVED TORTURE on SHARKS — our Planet NEEDS our Sharks!
It’s not entertainment to use wild animals in any way to entertain man- it’s a heinous form of slavery and must be stopped. Shun all such so-called performances!!!! Call them out for what they are🥵🥵🥵
SO CRUEL!
SO CRUEL AND INHUMANE WHO WOULD WANT TO EAT SHARK FINS KNOWING THE CRUELTY BEHIND IT!
WHY??
You need to stop this foolishness of shark fin soup, shit . If you can’t carry on your business without breaking the law of cruelty and human compassion , than open a Dairy Queen Restaurant . That sounds more on your level and your professional and personal conduct takes stupidity to a whole other level .Your a laughable excuse for a human being !!!
Enforcement of the ban is required to eventually stop the practice. Is anyone in charge of enforcing it? Is there not a department of the city or state that regularly patrols the restaurants and can spot the ones violating the ban? If not, the evil, cruel, and destructive practice will continue because it makes money for the violators.
It is high time the law was enforced to put an end to this gruesome practice.
If these restaurants are ignoring the law then they should be prosecuted!
dear Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell if you could stop fighting for like 3 seconds do you think you could pass legislation to ban shark fin entering the United States.this is so cruel and so barbaric that any civilized country that permits this is uncivilized and barbaric.
TIME FOR WORLDWIDE CHANGE STARTING HERE IN THE USA