Shark fins are illegal primarily because of the cruel and unsustainable practice known as shark finning, where the fins are cut off live sharks, and the mutilated sharks are then thrown back into the ocean to die from drowning, blood loss, or predation. This practice significantly harms shark populations, contributing to a steep decline in shark and ray populations globally. The illegality stems from efforts to protect sharks as they are apex predators and vital to ocean ecosystems. Laws like the U.S. Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act prohibit possessing, buying, selling, or transporting shark fins to stop the trade and reduce shark deaths. Shark finning is considered cruel, wasteful, and environmentally damaging, leading to international and national bans to conserve shark populations and marine biodiversity. In the U.S., the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (2022) bans shark fin trade with limited exceptions, aiming to remove the U.S. from the global fin trade and prevent further population declines. Similar laws exist in other countries with the goal to protect sharks from this inhumane practice and maintain healthy ocean ecosystems.
