Some 73 million sharks are killed each year for their fins, depriving ocean habitats of this vital top predator.
Last week there was some great news for the Sphyrna lewini species of hammerhead shark as Costa Rica awarded Appendix III CITES protection to the beleaguered species.
Found mostly along the coasts of its natural range in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans hammerhead shark fins are one of the most prized in Asian markets. Because these scalloped hammerheads swim in large schools, they are targeted by fisheries and particularly susceptible to overfishing. The high commercial value of the shark’s fins combined with the low value of hammerhead shark meat has led to widespread finning of the species, a wasteful and often illegal practice in which the fins are severed only to have the shark thrown back into the ocean to die a slow, painful death.
Defenders of Wildlife worked closely with the Costa Rican government to secure this listing for the hammerhead shark, and while it is an important first step towards worldwide shark conservation more countries and their leaders must recognize that this wasteful practice must stop.
Click here to learn more about Defenders work on sharks.
Defenders of Wildlife leads the pack when it comes to protecting wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
Great news and not before time. This protection has to be monitored. The people (I use this term loosely) have to stop this ridiculous need to buy shark fins, it is plain ignorance and utterly stupid. Those who can fin a shark and throw it back to sea are truly despicable, no matter how much money they receive for doing it. This practice makes my stomach turn with sickness each time I think about it.
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This is truely horrible
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