Major Chinese Airline Stands Up for the Oceans and Officially Bans Shark Fin Cargo!

China has made some big moves towards conservation in 2017.

The Chinese Government announced that they would officially ban the sale and trade of illegal ivory by the end of 2017. Elephants and conservationists alike were thrilled and the good news does not stop there. Air China Cargo, has joined the 35 airlines and 17 global container shipping companies in banning shark fin cargo. This airline is the first in mainland China to impose such a ban, marking a major win for sharks as the country is one of the largest markets for shark fin soup in the world.

Scientists estimate that around 100 million sharks are killed every year. Out of this number, 73 million sharks are killed to make shark fin soup alone. Experts estimate that this single trade generates around one billion dollars annually. These profits translate into over 200 species of sharks on the endangered species list, and one study from the International Shark Foundation estimates that some the population of some species has decreased by 98 percent over the last 15 years. Sharks are essential to the balance of the marine ecosystem. They are apex predators and without them, the smaller species of fish would destroy most of the fauna on the ocean floor. This would eventually result in the decimation of all life in the oceans and increase our global carbon emissions as well. With this in mind, we can’t let them be senselessly ripped from the oceans all to make a delicacy soup.

Alex Hofford, an activist from WildAid Hong Kong commented on the ban, telling the Washington Post, “It’s a bold move, and this is likely to have a huge and lasting impact on shark populations and marine ecosystems worldwide.”

While Air China’s decision is commendable, there are many other shipping companies that still allow shark fin cargo on their planes, boats, and trucks. The most notorious of these companies is Fed Ex. Despite the pressure from organizations likeWildAid and Care2, Fed Ex continues to allow shark fin cargo onto its fleet.

You can add your voice to the 300,000 others who have signed Care2’s petition to stop Fed Ex from participating in the shark fin trade.  We have the power as consumers to create ethical standards for the companies we support. If we use our combined resources we can change the way companies do business. You can also help to end the shark fin trade by sharing this article and educating your friend and family. Make your voice heard and together, we can end the shark fin trade and save sharks from extinction.

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