Shark Fin CSI
Every year millions of sharks are slaughtered for their fins. The Field has developed new methods to identify some of these sharks to better enforce laws and help end the illegal trade. Science...
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In 2012, Illinois became the first non-coastal state to ban the distribution, sale, and trade of shark fins like this one. At first glance this may seem odd considering there’s no ocean anywhere in sight, but not when you acknowledge that many inland states contribute to the decline of shark populations by importing shark fins for restaurant delicacies. Shark fin soup is not only a traditional cuisine for many Eastern cultures, it's also an incredibly lucrative menu item, selling for up to $100 per bowl. Every year, some 100 million sharks are caught, their fins cut off, and then they're dumped back—still alive—into the ocean to drown or bleed to death in order to meet the demands of this industry. The biggest challenge for scientists and c...
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In 2012, Illinois became the first non-coastal state to ban the distribution, sale, and trade of shark fins like this one. At first glance this may seem odd considering there’s no ocean anywhere in sight, but not when you acknowledge that many inland states contribute to the decline of shark populations by importing shark fins for restaurant delicacies. Shark fin soup is not only a traditional cuisine for many Eastern cultures, it's also an incredibly lucrative menu item, selling for up to $100 per bowl. Every year, some 100 million sharks are caught, their fins cut off, and then they're dumped back—still alive—into the ocean to drown or bleed to death in order to meet the demands of this industry. The biggest challenge for scientists and c...
