Illegal Sharks trade in India, 16,000 kg of fins seized in 12 years

A recent study conducted by TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) and WWF-India reveals that nearly

By Ground report 18 Mar 2024

New Update

Illegal Sharks trade in India, 16,000 kg of fins seized in 12 years

A recent study conducted by TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) and WWF-India reveals that nearly 16,000 kg of shark fins were confiscated in India between January 2010 and December 2022. These fins accounted for more than 80% of all seizures involving shark-derived items. Additionally, substantial quantities of shark cartilage and teeth were also apprehended during this period.

‘Illegal Trade Threat To Shark Species’

The "Netted in Illegal Wildlife Trade: Sharks of India" fact sheet was jointly released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and TRAFFIC, a leading non-governmental organization dedicated to wildlife conservation.

During this period, shark fins constituted a significant portion, accounting for 82 per cent of the seized shark body parts. However, authorities also confiscated 1,600 kg of cartilage and 2,445 kg of teeth in separate incidents, highlighting the extensive exploitation of these marine creatures.

The primary objective of this fact sheet is to raise public awareness about the rampant illegal shark trade in India and underscore the pressing threats and conservation challenges facing these magnificent creatures.

Tamil Nadu emerged as a hotspot for shark part seizures, accounting for about 65 per cent of reported incidents. Other states like Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, and Maharashtra also reported similar cases. The illegally obtained shark products were often smuggled to countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and China.

Disturbingly, despite existing regulations, more than eight crore sharks are falling victim to human greed annually, further exacerbating the crisis facing these apex predators.

Shark products in high demand

The report highlighted that shark fins are in high demand due to their use in delicacies like shark fin soup. Other shark products such as meat, skin, liver oil ('squalene'), cartilage, jaws, and teeth are also sought after for various purposes including food, leather, beauty products, medicines, and artefacts.

Authorities were directing the confiscated products to Singapore, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Sri Lanka, and mainland China. “The demand for shark fins and meat is a major driver of the global shark fishery. Shark fins are the most sought-after shark product that are used to make shark-fin soup, a delicacy,” said Merwyn Fernandes, associate director of TRAFFIC India office.

Fernandes pointed out that people also demand other shark products, albeit to a lesser extent. He said, "People consume shark's meat as food, use the skin as leather, use liver oil (squalene) as a lubricant, in cosmetics, and as a source of Vitamin A. They extract chondroitin sulphate from cartilages for the preparation of medicines, and they even make curios from the jaws and teeth."

Fernandes highlights that sharks play a crucial role in our ecosystem. As the top predators in the oceanic food web, they prey on various species such as plankton, fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals. He added that overfishing and low biological productivity expose them to a greater risk of extinction compared to most other vertebrates."

Sharks vital to marine balance

Sharks are crucial apex predators in marine ecosystems, regulating populations of various species like plankton, fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals. With over 500 shark species globally, they maintain ecological balance. However, rampant hunting and their slow reproductive rate threaten many shark species with extinction, a risk higher than for many other vertebrates.

In India, only 26 out of 160 shark species receive maximum protection under the amended Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, listed in its Schedule I and II. They are also classified in Schedule IV of the Species Act, Appendices I and II of CITES, emphasizing conservation urgency.

“Illegal trade poses a serious conservation threat to sharks in India and globally. One of the main ways sharks are traded illegally worldwide is through misdeclaring relevant species on permits," said Dipankar Ghose, senior director of biodiversity conservation, at WWF-India, and interim head of the TRAFFIC India Office.

Ghose said, "We cannot significantly identify the shark fins against numerous potential shark species in trade, which is a major gap in curbing their illicit trade. Moreover, the insufficiency of monitoring mechanisms makes it even more challenging to differentiate legal and illegal shark trading".

Climate change worsens shark threats

The detrimental impacts of climate change are compounding these challenges. Despite their misrepresented aggressive image in popular media, sharks face dire threats primarily due to human-induced activities like overfishing and habitat degradation.

Studies have shown that over one-third of global shark and ray fish populations are now at risk of extinction, with rampant hunting identified as a leading cause. Climate-induced changes, such as premature births of shark offspring due to rising temperatures, further jeopardize their survival and contribute to declining population sizes.

Sharks have existed for the last 400 million years, but the increase in human demand for their fins has pushed many of their species to the brink of extinction. Notably, one in every three shark species worldwide faces the danger of extinction today.