Please help stop Shark Finning, Sign the Petition [View All]

[pnutchuck]

It's too barbaric to imagine, but it happens everyday. Fishermen catch a shark, slice off its fins, and cast it back into the water to bleed a slow, painful death. What's worse, this practice has accelerated in recent years, driven by increased demand for shark fin soup in Asia, where it's considered a delicacy. But you can help to end this cruel practice.

Shark finning is pushing the species dangerously close to extinction, with shark numbers down roughly 90% since the 1950s. But the oceans cannot thrive without predator species. Indeed, sharks play a critical role in maintaining the health of our marine ecosystems.

But there's reason for hope. Last month, the 63 nations that comprise the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) approved a binding U.S. proposal to ban shark finning in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. This is a big step forward, as it's the first time there's been a multilateral effort to ban this cruel practice on the open seas.

We must not lose momentum! Urge U.S. officials to pursue a global ban on shark finning and an end to this barbaric practice once and for all.

Thank you for receiving Animals & Environment Alerts from Care2, and please act today!

Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/19554