(SHARK FIN) The cruel act of shark finning will no longer be tolerated in Europe, as the EU parliament officially banned the practice last week. With parliamentary approval, the measure will now hold strong and be enforced, aiding in shark protection and preservation. Ocean conservationist groups around the world applaud the European efforts and hope other nations will follow suit. Read on to learn more about this favorable plan. — Global Animal
(ANIMAL TRADE) HONG KONG — The increasing demand for shark fin in China is contributing to the worldwide decline in the shark population. Hong Kong accounts for half of the global fin trade and last year approximately 10,000 metric tons were imported into the city. When Hong Kong’s largest airline, Cathay Pacific, discovered that 13% of the commodity was transported in by cargo, the company released a ban on shark meat in their planes. The involvement of large corporations leading the way in conservation can redirect the world’s many industries in a more animal-friendly direction. Read more to learn about the airline’s philosophy. — Global Animal
(SHARK NEWS) Over the years, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has gained millions of viewers and even stretched across seas. Most tune in for the thrill, but animal activists are worried if this negatively depicts our fish while straying from the terrible reality that humans kill tens of millions of sharks per year. Humans are rarely threatened by sharks, but a lot of the episodes from Shark Week largely focus on the aggressive nature of Great Whites, a type of shark that seldom mistakes humans for seals. While MythBusters does a fantastic job reminding us we are more likely to die from a Black Friday stampede or even a hotdog than from a shark attack, this is just one episode competing amongst 160 other. Read on to learn more about how the series could help sharks by highlighting the dangers we put them through. — Global Animal
(GREAT WHITE SHARKS) CALIFONIA — A team of California environmentalists filed a petition with the federal National Marine Fisheries Service to declare the great white shark endangered. Although it’s difficult to come by accurate population number the alarming amount of sharks caught in fisherman’s nets each year is cause for concern. Read on for more on the future of great whites. — Global Animal
(TAKE ACTION) The infamous Shark Week on Discovery Channel has inspired a company to focus their attention on some of the most misunderstood animals on our planet. TOMS Shoes, known for their generosity in poverty-stricken areas, has launched a line dedicated to shark conservation. Proceeds made from every pair go to protecting sharks and their habitats. Alongside these efforts, TOMS has been conducting research excursions and discussions revolving around shark preservation. Read on for more about this limited edition fashion line and how else you can help these fascinating fish. — Global Animal
(SHARK NEWS) The French government gave the go-ahead for the extermination of bull sharks in the waters off the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion after a rise in shark attacks in the area. The government is giving out financial incentives to fishermen who kill the near threatened marine animal. With shark specialists contending that the drastic initiative will not work and with other humane alternatives on the table, the potential shark cull seems ridiculous and ineffective just to make waters safer for surfers. Read on for more on this potentially tragic and misguided decision. — Global Animal
(SHARK FIN SOUP) Last week, China announced it would prohibit shark fin soup from being served at official government banquets. Although the ban could take as many as three years to take effect, prohibiting this popular delicacy from such events is a step in the right direction for China, the main hub for the international trade in shark fins. Read on to learn how this ban could help endangered shark populations. — Global Animal
(SHARK FINNING) BELGIUM — The European Union is supporting a complete ban on the practice of removing sharks’ fins. 75 million sharks die every year for the profit their fins fetch, and the EU has decided to stop the brutal practice of shark finning. The ban would force fishermen to dock with sharks that still have their fins attached. Read on for the details about how the EU is supporting shark populations. — Global Animal
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