What is finning?
Finning is one of the most brutal fishing practices. It involves capturing sharks, cutting off their fins — often while they are still alive — and throwing the mutilated body back into the sea. Without their fins, sharks are unable to swim, slowly sinking to the bottom of the ocean where they die from suffocation or are eaten by other predators.
All this to satisfy the growing global demand for shark fins, considered a luxury ingredient in Asian cuisine, especially for the famous shark fin soup. The market value of fins can be hundreds of times higher than that of shark meat, making finning an economically profitable but lethally destructive practice.
The most threatened species
Not all sharks are equally affected. Some species, particularly sought after for the size or shape of their fins, are now on the brink of extinction. Among the most threatened are:
- Blue shark: sadly unprotected, recognizable by its metallic blue color;
- Hammerhead shark: a preferred target, easily identified by its distinctive hammer-shaped head;
- Shortfin mako shark: famous for its speed, hunted both for its fins and meat;
- Silky shark: heavily fished for the global trade market;
- Thresher shark: easily recognized by its extremely long, whip-like tail.
According to the IUCN, more than 30% of shark species are currently threatened with extinction, and finning plays a direct role in this tragedy.
Where is finning most common?
International waters, where there is little regulation or clear jurisdiction, are the main stage for finning. It is particularly widespread:
- In the Pacific Ocean, especially near major shipping routes;
- In the Indian Ocean, where maritime surveillance is weak and shark fin consumption is high;
- In the Western Pacific and regions of Southeast Asia, close to the main consumer markets.
Even where finning is officially banned, such as in the European Union or the United States, enforcing the rules is difficult on the high seas.
Finning in the Mediterranean
It may seem unbelievable, but even our own Mediterranean Sea is involved. According to recent reports, the Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous seas in the world for sharks, with over 50% of its shark species at risk of extinction.
In Italy, Greece, and Spain, accidental shark fishing is still a major issue. While true finning is less common than in Asia, enforcement is not always effective, and past legislative shortcomings have left visible consequences.
Who consumes shark fins?
Shark fin consumption is deeply rooted in the culture of some Asian countries. The main consumers are:
- China, where shark fin soup is traditionally served at weddings and prestigious banquets;
- Hong Kong, the global epicenter of the shark fin trade;
- Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, where fins are also used in traditional medicine.
Although awareness campaigns have started to change consumption habits (for example, in China, where consumption has decreased in recent years), the market remains huge and highly profitable.
And in Italy?
In Italy, direct consumption of shark fin soup is rare, but it does exist: some ethnic restaurants have been involved in cases of illegal fin imports. More widespread is the unconscious consumption of shark meat, sold under more reassuring names like palombo (smoothhound), nocciola di mare (hazelnut of the sea), vitello di mare (veal of the sea), and sometimes even passed off as swordfish.
Despite European bans against finning and strict regulations, controls, especially on imports, are still insufficient.
An ocean without sharks?
Sharks are essential to the health of the oceans: as true “ecosystem regulators,” they control the populations of other species and maintain the balance of the marine food chain.
Their disappearance would have catastrophic consequences, triggering a domino effect throughout the marine ecosystem — impacting fisheries, tourism, and the very life of the oceans themselves.
Protecting sharks means protecting the future of the sea.
If we want to continue living on a planet full of life, we must stop finning now. Supporting organizations fighting illegal fishing, avoiding shark-derived products, and raising awareness are small but powerful steps that can make a real difference.
