Shark-fin Protests

SF Appeal reported that San Francisco conservation groups and individuals are protesting shark-finners who harvest the fins of a shark, usually leaving the de-finned sharks to perish in the ocean. Shark fins are valued at approximately $500 per pound in San Francisco, and the fins are considered a cultural delicacy for high-end meals celebrating special events. The article quotes Aquarium of the Bay’s Christina Slager, who said “I think it would be easier to rally people if they were cutting fins off dolphins because of that whole charismatic animal thing.” The article also points to a Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) study that found shark fin mercury levels above the safe levels of consumption.