In 2018, Diego Cardeñosa, a shark biologist, observed numerous large white bags in an inspection facility located in Hong Kong. These bags, stacked high under ceiling lights, each weighed over 50 kilograms (110 pounds) and were filled with shark fins. Cardeñosa described this sight as shocking and a significant reality check during his time as a student. He was conducting research for his PhD at Stony Brook University and spent time in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2020. During this period, he assisted in training local law enforcement to use a mobile DNA kit for identifying shark species that are protected under CITES, a treaty aimed at regulating international trade in endangered species.
Many of the fins that Cardeñosa encountered in the facility were from silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis). This species is heavily targeted for its fins, which are a key ingredient in shark fin soup, a popular dish in China and Southeast Asia. Additionally, silky sharks are often caught in large numbers as bycatch in fishing. Over the past five decades, shark populations have significantly dropped. A study set to be released in 2024 revealed that overfishing has reduced the numbers of around 1,200 species of sharks and rays by half since 1970.
This article was originally published on Mongabay. What are your thoughts on the decline of shark populations and its impact on marine ecosystems?
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Sharon Guynup