The global campaign in defense of sharks has picked up considerably in the last two or three years. What was once a niche issue — a sharp decline in shark populations because of soaring demand for their fins in parts of Asia — has gone mainstream.
Shawn Heinrichsfor the Pew Environment GroupA thresher shark in Taiwan with its dorsal fin cut off.
Several states, among them California, have banned the sale or possession of shark fins, a crucial ingredient for a pricey soup that is considered a status symbol in some Asian cultures. Shark sanctuaries are springing up around the world amid a growing awareness that the decimation of shark species undermines marine tourism.
To underline the gravity of the shark fin problem, the Pew Environment Group released
a series of often-graphic photographs on Wednesday that were taken this year in Taiwan,
which along with Indonesia, India and Spain is among the world’s most active participants in the practice.
The four countries account for more than 35 percent of shark catches, according to Pew.
(Hong Kong, where I live, is a key hub for the trade in dried shark fins.)
“These images present a snapshot of the immense scale of shark-fishing operations and show the devastation resulting from the lack of science-based management of sharks,” Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation at the Pew Environment Group, said in a statement accompanying the photos and a video.
“Unfortunately, since there are no limits on the number of these animals that can be killed in the open ocean, this activity can continue unabated,” he said.