Shark finning often involves slicing fins off live sharks and discarding the mutilated animals back into the ocean, where the sharks die from blood loss, suffocation, or predation.
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process
Describes the typical method and immediate biological consequences of shark finning.
Shark finning is banned in many countries but continues in some regions due to weak enforcement and high financial incentives for traffickers.
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trend
Explains regulatory status versus ongoing illegal activity driven by profit and enforcement challenges.
Shark fins are valued in parts of Chinese cuisine, particularly for shark fin soup, which is culturally associated with status and celebratory occasions and can command high prices on the market.
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economic_culture
Explains a key cultural and economic demand driver for the shark fin market.