Brazil seizes record haul of illegal shark fins

Brazilian authorities have confiscated nearly 30 tons of shark fins destined for Asia, in what they claim is the world’s largest seizure of its kind.

Fresh shark fins drying on sidewalk at Hong Kong
Ecology & Science

Brazil's environmental protection agency, Ibama, estimated that approximately 11,000 blue sharks and shortfin mako sharks, which Brazil listed as endangered last month, were killed.

The fins, which were destined for Asia, where shark fin soup is considered a delicacy, were found in two locations.

Chinese demand for shark fins has plummeted

With social media allowing Chinese youth to express themselves more freely, the shark fin campaign almost became part of pop culture, conservationists say

Fresh shark fins drying on sidewalk
Ecology & Science

Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins while the remainder of the living shark is discarded in the ocean.

NBA All-Star Yao Ming pledged to stop eating shark fin soup at a news conference on August 2, 2006. However at that time Yao's comments were largely unreported in the Chinese media.

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