5 FACTS ON SHARK FINNING YOU DIDN'T KNOW
Happy eating to all who don't eat shark fin! Shark fins at the dinner table may be boujee, but they are simply horrific for the shark population. Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins, while the remainder of the shark is discarded in the ocean. Here’s 5 facts on shark finning you didn't know…
- Up to 98% of the shark is wasted - After the fins are cut off the shark, the shark is then thrown back into the ocean, and drowns as it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
- 139 sharks are killed per minute - That's 8,340 sharks killed in an hour. The yearly average of sharks being killed for finning is 73 million!
- Shark fins have high demand - A pound of shark fins can be bought for upward of $300 USD, while the rest of the shark meat is worth .45 cents a pound. Since 1992, consumer demand for shark fins has been increasing yearly by 6%.
- China, Japan, and Thailand - These are the countries that consume the most shark fins.
- Indonesia - Produces and exports the greatest quantity of shark fins, totaling 107,000 tons a year.
Hope isn't lost - There is a future where sharks aren’t hunted for their fins. Citizens like YOU can make a difference. Follow these do’s and don'ts in order to help conserve sharks:
DO:
- support conservation for sharks.
- educate yourself and others on the dangers that sharks face.
DON’T:
- purchase shark fins.
- support restaurants/stores that sell shark fins.
Support shark fin conservation with your purchase of our ‘protect the fins tee’ and help educate the public on the biggest danger to sharks.
Sources:
https://brandongaille.com/39-intriguing-shark-finning-statistics/
http://www.sharktruth.com/learn/shark-finning/
https://animalcaseprofile.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/a-look-at-shark-finning-the-practice-impacts-and-legislation/