The world trade of shark fins is a grotesque and inhumane practice. More than 100 million sharks are killed every year, mostly for their fins alone. "Finning" involves cutting all the fins off a shark’s body, usually while the shark is still alive. Once the fins are removed the living, bleeding body of the shark it is thrown back to sea to die as "waste".
The United States is a leader in the global community for preventing the inhumane "finning" of sharks, however many other countries maintain loopholes or allow this practice to continue. Lets push for greater worldwide preservation of our sharks. Not only will this help maintain multiple species, it will keep the oceans in better health by maintaining the predator-prey balance, a benefit for the longevity of the fishing industry.