FishWise's Partners Say No to Shark Finning

Photo credit: Seathos.org

FishWisers have been tuning into Shark Week every night with the rest of the country. Discovery Channel’s annual program has highlighted the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to the ocean’s most feared predators. But sharks are far more threatened by humans than we are by sharks.

Every year, between 63 and 273 million sharks are killed in commercial fisheries, representing 6.4% and 7.9% of all the sharks in the ocean. That’s up to more than 500 sharks per minute! There is increasing global demand for shark fins, endangering vulnerable species like scalloped hammerheads and oceanic white tips. That’s why none of our nationwide retailer partners source shark fins or shark fin soup, and shark meat comes only from Seafood Watch Yellow-rated fisheries in the US, indicating they are a Good Alternative for responsibly sourced seafood.

Even when we as consumers make the choice not to eat shark, it’s important to eat only responsibly caught seafood. More than half of the sharks caught each year are caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries, meaning they were not the target species. By purchasing from only sustainable sources, we can ensure these charismatic creatures will continue to inspire fear and admiration in future generations.

The Discovery Channel’s annual “Shark Week” ends tonight July 10! For more information, including ways in which you can help save sharks, visit http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week.