Source: Life Science
Officials in Brazil seized shark fins weighing more than 28,700 kilograms—more than 30 tons. Officials at Ibama, a federal agency under Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment, estimate that about 10,000 sharks—mostly blue sharks and shortfin makos—will be killed for mass production. This could be the largest ever illegal shark fin seizure in the world.
Shark fishing is banned throughout Brazil, but this top predator is still illegally caught by fishermen in certain areas. According to a Declaration of Ibama (Portuguese)almost all the fins (more than 95%) were confiscated from a single unnamed export company in Santa Catarina, located on the south coast of Brazil, while the rest was confiscated from another company. , also unnamed, operates out of São Paulo -Guarulhos International Airport.
“Ibama has been monitoring the trade and export of shark fins and we have been able to determine the volume, large numbers of these fins being marketed, mainly to Asia, the main consumer market,” said Jair Schmitt. , the director of Ibama, said in the statement. . Throughout Asia, shark fin is sold as a powder or capsule, or for use in shark fin soup, with unfounded claims that it tonics the blood, improves appetite, enhances sexual performance, and improves mood. or even prevent cancer and heart disease.
Last December, President Biden signed into law the “Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act,” which bans the commercial trade of shark fins and products containing shark fins in the United States. However, millions of sharks—73 million according to one study—are estimated to be killed every year to supply the shark fin market.
