Sharks in danger from fashion for fin soup

Numbers being killed three to four times higher than previously thought - <em>News release</em>

Imperial College London news release

For immediate release
25 October 2006

The number of sharks being killed to supply increasing demand for shark fin soup is three to four times higher than previously thought, says new research published in this month’s Ecology Letters. Researchers warn that the trade is putting some species at serious risk.

The study, led by Dr Shelley Clarke at Imperial College London's Division of Biology, involved conducting an independent estimate of the annual number of globally traded shark fins, by species. Their results show that between 26 and 73 million sharks are killed each year, equivalent to 1.21 to 2.29 million metric tonnes per year. This is considerably higher than the 0.4 to 0.6 million metric tonnes reported to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

A large number of sharks killed every year for their valuable fins are caught by fisheries which are unregulated and the catch is often unreported. This means that official estimates of shark catches are highly uncertain and inaccurate. Dr Clarke and her colleagues carried out a comprehensive investigation of shark fins sold at auction in Hong Kong, the world's largest fin market. They were then able to convert species-specific fin weights in the Hong Kong market into worldwide estimates of shark catch numbers.

This is the first time such data has been collected independently of the fishing industry, and the first time the number of fins being traded at auction has been used as an indicator of the number of sharks being caught.

Dr Clarke explains: "Our findings confirm that a far larger number of sharks are being caught every year than current databases indicate. The fin trade is continuing to expand and thus the pressure on shark populations is constantly increasing. We found that even a very productive species, the blue shark, is being caught at levels which may already be unsustainable."

Shark fins are a highly valued commodity, and fin soup, which has long been regarded as a luxury in China, has grown in popularity recently, now commanding up to 100 US dollars for a bowl serving 4 people. The species most at risk of being killed for their fins include blue shark, hammerheads and silky sharks, but many other species are also used.

For further information please contact:

Danielle Reeves
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 759 42198
Mob: +44 (0)7803 886248
Email: Danielle.reeves@imperial.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. "Global estimates of shark catches using trade records from commercial markets", Ecology Letters, (2006) 9: 1115 – 1126

Shelley C. Clarke (1), Murdoch K. McAllister (2), E. J. Milner-Gulland (3), G. P. Kirkwood (2), Catherine G. J. Michielsens (4), David J. Agnew(2), Ellen K. Pikitch (5), Hideki Nikano (6), Mahmood S. Shivji (7).

(1) Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii and National Research Institute of Far seas Fisheries, 5-7-1 Shimizu-Orido, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan.
(2) Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
(3) Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK.
(4) Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Viikinkaari 4, PO Box 2, FIN-00791 Helsinki, Finland.
(5) Pew Institute for Ocean Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
(6) Fisheries Agency of Japan, 1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8907, Japan.
(7) Guy Harvey Research Institute, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, 8000 North ocean Drive, Dania beach, FL 33004, USA.

A full copy of the paper can be downloaded at: Ecology Letters 

2. Dr Shelley C. Clarke carried out this research whilst based at Imperial College London. She is now based in Japan and is available for telephone interviews in the morning British time.

3. Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (11,000) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture. Website: www.imperial.ac.uk