Most people have heard of shark finning, but what really is it? Shark finning is when fishermen catch sharks, cut off their dorsal fins, and then throw the bodies back into the water. Shark fins are considered a delicacy in much of Asia, used for shark fin soup and other dishes. Shark fin soup has been around for a very long time, but starting in the middle of the twentieth century, it became much less popular. However, in the last two decades or so, the demand for it has increased again, and new shark finning issues have begun to arise. Shark fin is also used in medicines, as it is believed, incorrectly, to improve skin quality, lower cholesterol and even prevent heart problems. Despite there being no proven benefit in consuming or otherwise using shark fins, 76 to 80 million sharks are killed for their fins annually.
In the U.S. and other parts of the world, new rules and regulations have been put in place to stop shark finning. States have put in place regulations for shark preservation, and international laws have been put in place to help save these animals. Now, it may seem a bit confusing, as it’s hard to say specific parts of oceans belong to certain states or countries. However, in general there are three sets of regulations. The strongest rules are in what is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is the water between 12.1 and 200 miles from the shores of the U.S., and the rules for this zone are pretty general, but they cannot be undermined by any state or federal rules that governments try to put on top of it. These rules say that people have the rights to explore, conserve and manage the natural resources of the seabed and waters above it.
The next layer of rules are federal laws in the ocean. These extend from 3.1 to 12 miles of the coasts, and include rules about overfishing, and finning. Finally there are state laws, which extend from coasts to three miles from shores, and are the most specific, like what kinds of fish are allowed to be caught commercially and more. In the U.S. there have been many laws put in place, and many of these have been to regulate the shark finning industry.
In the EEZ it is illegal to fin sharks, but this is pretty hard to enforce. However, in federal waters it is illegal to have more shark dorsal fins on a person, boat or vehicle than the amount of shark bodies. This is a roundabout way of saying it is illegal to have shark fins, unless they are attached to the body of a shark. Even if you were not the one who caught and finned the shark you can still get in a lot of trouble just for having it on you.
In the U.S., it is also illegal to have anything to do with shark fins on land, whether they are the actual thing, or a product made from shark fin. It is illegal to buy, sell, or own shark fins or their products, and it is surprisingly well enforced, so you can get in pretty serious trouble for being caught. So much so that there is even a black market just for these products. There are many threats toward sharks that are because of humans, but perhaps the most cruel and wasteful is shark finning.