The illegal trade in shark fins poses a severe threat to several shark species, potentially leading to their extinction. A recent study by researchers at Florida International University highlights the ongoing noncompliance with international regulations designed to protect these ancient marine creatures. Published in the journal Science Advances, the peer-reviewed research reveals that fins from four out of five shark species, which are regulated under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), are still readily available in markets across Hong Kong, a major hub for shark fin trade.
The study identifies three large hammerhead species—the scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, and great hammerhead—alongside the porbeagle and the oceanic whitetip as threatened species. According to Dr. Demian Chapman, project leader and director of the Shark and Rays Conservation Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida, “Many sharks may be headed toward extinction, with international trade of shark products driving fishing pressure beyond a species’ ability to reproduce and replenish populations.”
Despite regulations established in 2014 requiring all shark fin trade to be reported and certified as non-threatening, the study reports that 81 percent of shark-fin-exporting countries have not reported any trade involving these listed species. This suggests that illegal exports continue to thrive. “There’s a huge gap between what’s on paper and what’s happening in the real world,” said Dr. Diego Cardeñosa, lead author from Florida International University’s Department of Biological Sciences. “DNA evidence clearly shows these protected species are still entering the global market at alarming rates.”
Global Implications of Shark Fin Trade
The research identifies several countries that are likely involved in the illegal shark fin trade at significant levels, including Spain, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, China, the Philippines, Ghana, and Brazil. Each year, millions of pounds of shark meat and fins circulate through international markets, with Hong Kong being the leading center for shark fins, often used in luxury dishes such as shark fin soup, traditional medicine, or hunted for trophies.
This escalating demand fuels shark hunting and a brutal practice known as shark finning, where fins are cut from live sharks, which have existed in Earth’s oceans for approximately 450 million years, and the sharks are discarded back into the sea to die. “We are reaching a major tipping point where if the fishing and trade of these species is not meaningfully reduced, then these sharks will disappear,” warned Dr. Cardeñosa. “This would be a huge loss of top predators in our oceans, which could unleash serious and unpredictable ecosystem changes that negatively affect us.”
Hope for Conservation Efforts
Despite the grim outlook, researchers remain optimistic about the future of shark populations. “Shedding light on this problem is a major step toward solving it,” concluded Dr. Chapman. By raising awareness of the illegal trade and its consequences, scientists hope to foster a greater commitment to conservation efforts and ensure that these magnificent creatures do not disappear from the oceans.
