This is the first in a two-part series originally published in Spanish on Mongabay Latam. We will publish the second story on October 14, 2022. The crystal-clear waters of the oceans surrounding Panama hold wealth beyond the abundance of fish. Legal gaps and flexibility in some of the regulations governing fishing activity have become the […]
Continued demand for shark fin soup, dumplings, and other related dishes served in restaurants around the world particularly in China perpetuates the practice of finning, which consists of removing fins from sharks and discarding the rest of the animal back into the ocean. The sharks are often still alive when discarded, but without their fins. Unable to swim effectively, they sink to the bottom of the ocean and die of suffocation or are eaten by other predators, according to marine biologists.