The Humane Society of the United States and its international arm Humane Society International have been working to protect sharks by ending shark fishing tournaments and reducing the consumption of shark fin soup.
"As with whales, elephants, gorillas and tigers, shark populations are of very significant concern," said Andrew Rowan, Ph.D., CEO of HSI and executive vice president of The HSUS. "Sharks as top predators play an important role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. We must act now to stem the alarming decline of many shark species in the world's oceans."
A report released in May found that 11 shark species are in danger of extinction. It is estimated that tens of millions of sharks are finned every year to meet the demand for shark fin soup.
Increasing wealth in Asia means that many more people can afford shark fin soup, putting additional pressure on already declining populations. At the same time, prestigious institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, Disneyland Hong Kong, Hong Kong's Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the government of Malaysia no longer serve shark fin soup.
Last week, HSI and the Taiwanese group Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST) convinced Taiwan's world-class National Palace Museum to completely remove shark fin soup from its menu.
In the United States, the House of Representatives recently passed legislation requiring that all sharks caught by vessels under U.S. jurisdiction be brought to shore with their fins attached. This provision is designed to reduce the practice of removing fins from sharks and discarding their remains at sea. Identical language was introduced in the Senate last month.
The HSUS is also campaigning against shark fishing tournaments that award big cash prizes for landing the largest shark.
Last month, The HSUS, along with photographer and television personality Nigel Barker, encouraged Martha’s Vineyard visitors to sign a petition against the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament, which attracts hundreds of participants and spectators for a battle to catch the biggest shark. Earlier this year, The HSUS successfully lobbied the town's Board of Selectmen to deny an alcohol permit to tournament organizers.
In May, Long Island Cares, Inc., a Long Island, N.Y. food bank, agreed to stop accepting donations of shark meat from shark tournaments.
Conservationists including Jean-Michel Cousteau and researchers from the Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of Florida have spoken out against shark killing contests, which encourage participants to catch the largest sharks to win cash and prizes.
Shark tournaments take place in California, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
Last year, the Destin (Fla.) History and Fishing Museum voted unanimously to discontinue the Destin Deep Water Shark Tournament.
"We are seeing some progress in ending shark tournaments, which only perpetuate the very worst misconceptions about these animals," said Rowan. "Tournament operators are hauling in buckets of cash, but at a very high cost to biodiversity and the health of the marine ecosystem."
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
Humane Society International (HSI) is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the world's largest animal protection organization. HSI strives to create meaningful social change for animals through advocacy, education, and outreach. On the web at hsi.org.
