See this slide show to see what happens when modern manufacturing processes and shark finning collide.
No time or patience to sit through an entire slide show on industrial shark-finning, (which has ambient audio, image captions and full screen capabilty)? Here's a selection of the best photos from Kesen-numa City, Japan.
And here's a YouTube video of the industrial shark finning in Kesen-numa City that I shot with my iPhone.
KESEN-NUMA CITY, JAPAN - It's 5am on the the north eastern tip of Japan's main island of Honshu, and 75 tons of dead shark is being meticulously arranged into a neat grid of tidy piles, of twenty sharks per pile.
If you thought shark finning was exclusively a Chinese problem, think again. Welcome to Kesen-numa City, Japan's shark fin capital.
Here, six days a week, small teams of Japanese workers go about the hushed business of industrial shark-finning.
By 6.30am, with piles arranged, the sharks are disemboweled first. Hearts are ripped efficiently from their bodies by men wearing brightly coloured rubber boots and aprons. At 7am, the shark corpses are cleaned of their blood by workers wielding water hoses. And by 8am, small teams are silently moving up and down aisles and rows like robots in a Japanese car factory, quickly slicing off every dorsal, pectoral and tail fin from the lifeless, grey lumps. Big hungry black crows squawk in the shadows, looking for bloody morsels. And shark fins plop with regularity into small yellow plastic baskets. The baskets fill up fast, are then weighed, and finally carried to a nearby truck, where a man with a notepad strikes a deal. At 9.30am, it's all over for another day. Fork lift trucks scoop up tons of limbless carcasses, then dump them into a high-sided truck. The process is a brutal sight to behold, and not for the faint-hearted.
The fishing port of Kesen-numa City is located in Miyagi Prefecture in North East Japan, and is the country's only port dedicated to catching sharks.
Over two days in early July 2010, I saw 119 tons of blue shark (Prionace glaucaof), ten tons of salmon shark (Lamna ditropis), and three tons of short fin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) landed on the dock at Kesen-numa. Not to mention several tons of endangered bluefin tuna, (Thunnus thynnus), but that's a whole other story. Taking government transparency to another level, landed shark tonnage numbers are provided daily by the port of Kesen-numa's Japanese only website, which is publicly, (and apparently unashamedly), available. According to the most recent data available, a Kesen-numa Municipal Fisheries report, the gross tonnage of blue sharks landed in the small fishing port dropped from 9,722 tons in 2007 to 8,200 tons in 2008, a decline of 18.6%.
Only a small portion of shark fin prepared in Kesen-numa is destined for export, mostly to Hong Kong and Shanghai, where Japanese shark fin is seen as a premium brand by the new wealthy elite of China. For wealthy Chinese, shark fin from Kesen-numa is seen as a premium, or luxury, brand. Mr Hatakeyama, 45, a shark fin processor from Kesen-numa, said, "Quite a bit of shark fin is sent to Shanghai from here as there are many rich people there. Our shark fin here can command higher prices than Chinese shark fin sourced from elsewhere in Asia, the Middle East or Africa. Even though the Chinese have their own shark fin, they prefer Japanese brands".
Given the delicacy's roots, this is hardly surprising, but what is more unexpected is that the majority of shark fin processed in Kesen-numa is for domestic consumption as shark fin soup at Chinese restaurants and expensive hotels in Japan. Like in China, shark fin soup is common place at weddings, company banquets and all sorts of other special occasions where the paying host wants to show off their wealth. And much of the shark fin produced at small food factories dotted around the city ends up bound for Chinese restaurants in Japan, of which there are many. The rest is sold to hotels to include on their menus for newly weds and for corporate banquets.
In olden times, shark fin was sometimes used as a substitute for gold when Japanese merchants traded with China. Understandably, and for this same reason, the exact location for fin drying in Japan remains a closely guarded secret. And a significant amount is shipped to China for sun-drying, although the exact drying location in China is an even bigger secret.
These days, the port of Kesen-numa feels like a town down on it's luck. Once thriving, today there is a sense of decay in the air. Overgrown and rusty. Similarly, attitudes have yet to move with the times. As public sentiment slowly turns against shark fin soup in Hong Kong, what was once an ancient tradition in this forgotten corner of Japan, is, according to conservationists, wreaking havoc on shark populations worldwide. Small fishing boats used catch sharks as part of the city's ancient tradition.
But this tradition, coupled with modern fishing methods like the advent of strong and long fishing lines, and boats that can go further and stay out of port for longer, is a recipe for disaster for the sharks. According to the Japan Fisheries Agency, the nation's national shark fin catch nearly halved since the late 1960's. In 1969, the total number of sharks caught and landed in Japan was around 65,000 tons. Last year's total was around 35,000 tons, and Kesen-numa accounts for around 90% of all sharks caught nationally.
Whether the global marine ecosystems can suffer such an onslaught is debatable. The arguments against shark-finning are, by now, well known in Hong Kong. It is said that sharks take decades to reach adulthood, and by ripping them out of the oceans at such an unprecedented rate, we are depriving them of them of the chance to reproduce, and thus repopulate their decimated numbers. As sharks are apex predators at the top of the food chain, they are naturally predisposed to exist in smaller numbers than their prey and this, combined with their low reproductive rates, makes them naturally vulnerable to over-fishing. Cruelty may be the issue at stake for those who see the wasteful practice of slicing the fins off the shark at sea and tossing them back over the side of the boat, but in Kesen-numa the whole shark is landed. It is said that every part of every shark landed at Kesen-numa is processed there and then consumed. Even it's heart. For the people of Kesen-numa are seen as a little strange by ordinary Japanese. Locals can ill afford the shark fin soup available at many of the town's small side street restaurants, but the locals have developed a peculiar, if bloodthirsty, fondness for raw salmon shark heart sashimi. An exotic 'delicacy', which, according to local people, is consumed nowhere else in Japan. It is left up to the tourists who visit Kesen-numa to order the city's famous speciality, shark fin soup.
And tourists do come. Some are attracted to the splendid hiking along Miyagi Prefecture's rugged coastline, whilst others are seafood aficionados, looking for their next hit of sublime ultra-fresh exotic seafood. Early risers among them will inevitably make their way to the dock, where they are confronted with one of the most bloody spectacles they are likely ever to witness in their lives - Kesen-numa's very own industrial shark-finning show.
A quick walk around the town, reveals a parallel universe, where even the most basic concepts of marine conservation do not exist. Just a stone's throw from the dock, is the 'Kesen-numa Rias Shark Museum', which visitors enter through a giant set of shark jaws. Once inside, tourists are first confronted by real copies of faded front pages of tabloid newspapers from around the world that sensationalize shark attacks on swimmers. Make no mistake, sharks are bad, evil, a threat to humanity and they should be erdaicated from the face of the earth, the headlines, and so it seems the museum's message screams at us. This despite the fact that humans are statistically far more likely to die from crossing the road, than from an attack by a shark. After passing exhibits relating to the natural history of sharks at the half way mark, visitors leaving the museum pass a glass display box filled with all kinds of products one can make from shark; shark fin soup in a can, shark cartillage pills which are supposedly good for joint pain, and hand-crafted handbags made from shark leather. But not a word about conservation and the critical situation facing global shark stocks due to over-fishing.
Could a new battle between marine conservationists battling to save the sharks and the Japanese fishing lobby be on the horizon? First there was the annual showdown in the Southern Ocean between the Japanese whaling fleet and the environmental groups Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd to save the whale. Then there was the runaway success of the Oscar-winning documentary 'The Cove' which exposed the brutal Japanese trade in captive dolphins. One would think the tide is slowly turning.
Isn't it time Kesen-numa City, Japan's dirty little shark secret, was shut down too?
ALEX HOFFORD : HONG KONG CHINA KESENNUMA JAPAN SHARK FIN PHOTOGRAPHER
Submitted by Gary Stokes (not verified) on Mon, 12/07/2010 - 6:57am.
Hey Alex, great work fella. In Japan airport right now waiting for flight back to Hongkers. Been filming beautiful sharks in Hawaii to try and balance out the horror stuff. Shocking images, but expected all the same eh! Sitting here in Narita Airport in my Sea Shepherd hoodie. Wondered why I was getting a few strange looks, didn't click at first, duh! Anyway it's providing me with a little entertainment for the 5hr layover. Seeya soon fella, and great job again!!!
Submitted by jezmint@gmail.com (not verified) on Mon, 12/07/2010 - 12:59pm.
Amazing stuff! Thanks for sharing. This is indeed a much more humane way of handling the sharks, instead of throwing them back into the sea.
I will look out for Japanese Shark Fins the next time, they are so much more meticulous in their handling as compared to the chinese. Very efficient too! Do they utilize the meat of the sharks as well? It will be a shame to waste it.
Submitted by Ed (not verified) on Tue, 13/07/2010 - 6:38am.
This is decimation on a huge scale and really quite shocking. When will we as humans realise we cannot continue to treat the world in such a terrible way.
Submitted by A sad girl (not verified) on Tue, 13/07/2010 - 7:39am.
this is definitely better than throwing the shark carcasses back into the sea. But it makes me sick to the bone. Looking at these images i want to cry. I feel like a few nations on this planet are destroying my future. Japan is definitely part of that.
Submitted by Blue Planet Society (not verified) on Tue, 13/07/2010 - 8:51am.
They say a picture tells a thousand words and yours do. Thanks for bringing these horrific images to our attention. If ever a group of animals needed protection it is sharks.
Submitted by kevin (not verified) on Tue, 13/07/2010 - 9:20am.
hmmm, well atleast they didnt fin the shark and throw the carcass overboard, and so im guessing the whole shark is used ( skin, liver, meat etc).
yeah its sad that the northern blue fin tuna is endangered, but good news is that the southern blue fin tuna is doing Ok and seem to be managed well around australia.
Submitted by Johanna Wittgenstein (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 9:11am.
If not confronted with the dire reality, it would be hard to believe. Is there an initiative or group, that needs support? A list to sign? Anything to express disgust and contempt, that will be delivered to the appropriate authorities?
Submitted by Annette (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 10:47am.
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans continue to abuse the creatures of the Wild so BADLY?
Sickening sight, and so abhorrent to me and many others I imagine.
STOP this mutilation of a species. FOREVER!!!
Submitted by Annette (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 10:47am.
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans continue to abuse the creatures of the Wild so BADLY?
Sickening sight, and so abhorrent to me and many others I imagine.
STOP this mutilation of a species. FOREVER!!!
Submitted by Annette (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 10:52am.
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans abuse creature so the wild so badly?
This is totally abhorren to me and many others I imagine.
STOP THIS ABUSE FOR EVER. You greedy b......s!!!
Submitted by xp&sarah (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 10:54am.
great documentary and photos, very touching and impressive though sad. have made little effort personally to help promote shark protection in china and hongkong and your story will surely inspire many people to help stop these brutal / irresponsible activities.
Submitted by Brandon (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 4:18pm.
Its amazing such a proud and noble people with such a long history like the Japanese are destroying our oceans with there disrespect for our planet and animals one day when my grandchildren ask me were the Whales, Tuna, Dolphins and sharks went I'll say it was the Japanese. I personally wont be buying any more products from Japan.
Submitted by Christopher Bartlett (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 4:44pm.
A blue shark measures up to 3.8 metres long and typically weighs 138 to 181 kgs. Look how short these ones are and how easily they are picked up. On top of the senseless destruction on a massive scale of one of the apex predators that keep our oceans (the source of 80% of the planet's oxygen) healthy, we are now taking the juveniles before they have the chance to reproduce. Estimates of the global shark catch range from 73 to 110 million per year. Is it any wonder they are catching less now? Some shark populations are down by 97 (yes ninety seven) percent. Others are locally extinct, and it is not only the Chinese and the Japanese catching them (though they are the primary consumers), Spain supplies over 50% of the shark fins to the Hong Kong fish market.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 14/07/2010 - 8:10pm.
If they use all of the shark, then what is the problem here? It looks like their processing center is clean, efficient and well staffed. Are the sharks they harvest endangered? No. So what are people getting bent out of shape over? Is it the blood?
The broader issue is that the Japanese fishing fleet are taking out far too many sharks from the sea, and it is not sustainable. If it continues for much longer, according to a broad consensus among fisheries scientists, the marine eco-systems will simply collapse. This will result in mass exintion of species as well as hunger and starvation for the millions of people worldwide who depend on sustainable coastal fisheries as their primary source of protein.
Submitted by aaron michie (not verified) on Thu, 15/07/2010 - 3:34am.
This is disgusting but we need to look it in the eye.
I'm getting past talking about this and am going to once again start support Sea Shepard in their fight against this, as well as sharing this with anyone i meet from China and Japan along with a description of how i feel in no uncertain terms. It's an ugly response i know... but what the hell else can one do? I've already stopped eating any seafood and have been encouraging others to do the same, but seeing things like this make passive responses seem impotent.
Submitted by Alshehi Ibrahim (not verified) on Thu, 15/07/2010 - 1:43pm.
Thanks alot for sharing this with everyone,
I really think that the Japaness Gvernment must do something about this or at least control the amount of sharks and make sure that the poor sharks meat get utilized insted of wasting it.
Other wise NO more sharks will remaining. I really wish Japan and anywhere ese they could do something about it. Thats realy sad.
Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Thu, 15/07/2010 - 2:43pm.
These Pictures are shocking but it is only one days production from a 6 day operation and shows only one site in one village, imagine the true picture when all the other places like this one are added to the slaughter.
Submitted by Terry (not verified) on Thu, 15/07/2010 - 3:18pm.
Why do we just let these Japanese killers continue to plunder our marine environment whilst we cheer them on at FIFA World Cup, welcome their investments into our country and buy their cars? It's time to take action!
Submitted by Karli Thomas (not verified) on Thu, 15/07/2010 - 11:17pm.
This is horrific, I've never seen industrial scale shark finning before, though even images of a single finned shark are shocking enough. I'm disgusted to say the here in New Zealand, this practice is still allowed in our waters.
PS to the person that commented "sad that the northern blue fin tuna is endangered, but good news is that the southern blue fin tuna is doing Ok" - sorry to burst your bubble, but southern bluefin tuna is in fact in an even worse state, the most recent population assessment was that less that 5% of the stock remains and the species is listed as critically endangered. Once again, I am ashamed to say that on the backdrop of global (insufficient) quota cuts on southern bluefin, New Zealand just passed an INCREASE in our bluefin quota.
Submitted by stopracism (not verified) on Fri, 16/07/2010 - 12:07pm.
it is interesting that the whites care about sharks life but never care about human life in Afgan and Iraq. they still slaughter thousands of unarmed civilians. people like you use Japanese as scapegoat because you redneck don't want to look at what happens in Afgan or Iraq.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 16/07/2010 - 12:24pm.
This is just plain fucking sick, a complete waste, & utterly stupid to kill a species as a whole just for its fins! I wish I could cull all the assholes that are part of this and chop off an arm or leg and see how they would like thier limbs being used for flavoring in a fucking soup! Humans..... The only species on this planet that will fuck over one of their own or any other species for a fucking dollar!!!
Submitted by Heboya (not verified) on Fri, 16/07/2010 - 7:01pm.
Tuna's gross weight has decreased. Therefore, let's decrease the haul. This can be understood.
The shark?Do you exterminate?
As a strange, Oriental culture, it is "It is interesting. " as for [surimi] and the sushi.
On the other hand, to exterminate it, the traditional food culture of Japan is planned unfounded , saying that "It is cruel" and "It is barbarous".
It eats the dog in South Korea and China.
The insect also eats in Cambodia etc.
Bird's chicken under hatching also feeds.
It eats the whale also in Alaska.
"It is cruel", "It is barbarous", and "It is not possible to permit. "
"All gastronomic cultures different from us and the cultures not received cannot be permitted. "
"Cannot Japan permit why?"
Will the racism of Western Europe exterminate the Japanese culture by a new yellow whirlpool theory?
Submitted by heboya (not verified) on Fri, 16/07/2010 - 7:16pm.
Tuna's gross weight has decreased. Therefore, let's decrease the haul. This can be understood.
Is the shark exterminated?
As a strange, Oriental culture, it is "It is interesting. " as for [surimi] and the sushi.
On the other hand, to exterminate it, the traditional food culture of Japan is planned unfounded , saying that "It is cruel" and "It is barbarous".
It eats the dog in South Korea and China.
The insect also eats in Cambodia etc.
It eats the whale also in Alaska.
"It is cruel", "It is barbarous", and "It is not possible to permit. "
"All gastronomic cultures different from us and the cultures not received cannot be permitted. "
"Cannot Japan permit why?"
Will the racism of Western Europe exterminate the Japanese culture by a new yellow whirlpool theory?
"Fishing of the shark" is not made basic in Kesen'numa.
The shark that hangs in the net is only made for food when other fishing is done.
Submitted by Stardiver (not verified) on Sat, 17/07/2010 - 1:44am.
If nothing else, the sheer number of sharks here is absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. These aren't even big sharks, they are the smaller ones - likely juveniles! It takes 15-20 years for a shark to reach sexual maturity. If the number of potential breeding animals are wiped out at this rate, the results will be disastrous. The loss of this many young animals will have an impact on the overall population being able to sustain itself, or even recover from the damage done. If one thinks that the quantity shown here won't have an impact - you are so frighteningly wrong. The impact of this will not just affect the shark population, but the natural balance in the ocean that WILL affect ALL life if damaged. Please refer to "End of the Line" or "Sharkwater", and even try diving to see for yourself, the increasing acidification of the ocean as a result of the natural ecosystem being affected. I don't care what culture is causing this, it has to stop - our lives...all of us...depend on it.
Submitted by Karli Thomas (not verified) on Sat, 17/07/2010 - 1:56am.
I just saw that Citibank is offering a promotional discount on shark fin soup in Hong Kong. I have written to them (just using their "contact us" submission form as I did not have any name or contact details for a relevant manager) - sent them your photo essay and urged them not to help fuel this cruel, wasteful ecological tragedy. The link is below in case others wish to contact them as well.
~ K
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 17/07/2010 - 3:02am.
It is in white men's blood that they treat animals better than humans. They enslaved black Africans, decimated native Americans and Australian Aborigines without shedding a drop of tear, but it comes to animals they are quick to point their fingers at non-white.
Submitted by Rich (not verified) on Sat, 17/07/2010 - 4:11am.
Shut up, you retard. You call yourself 'stopracism' and then bandy about words like 'whites' and 'rednecks'. If you wanna stop racism look in the mirror first, then the dictionary......
Th future of sharks can have an effect on every person on this planet, no-one knows for sure. This happens to be in Japan, but it happens in other countries too.... Where, and by whom is immaterial. IT NEEDS TO STOP !!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 17/07/2010 - 11:14am.
This photo can be taken normal market. There is NO SECRET.
Fishers catch Tuna and same time capture sharks.
We eat sharks, like Germans do to pigs, as kamaboko.
You don't know Japanese Culture. Lol
Submitted by Passerby (not verified) on Sun, 18/07/2010 - 4:09am.
I don't necessarily agree with your agenda, but that is now why I am leaving comments. I am just curious what you think about the The Sun article. You were quoted as "It was hellish - so much killing just for fins," while you wrote here "It is said that every part of every shark landed at Kesen-numa is processed there and then consumed. Even it's heart." You might have not meant that the Japanese only uses fins and discard everything, but apparently that was the impression that the readers of The Sun. I also find it interesting to see that you seem to be somewhat critical of tabloid sensationalism, yet you were a willing participant when it served your cause.
FYI, I didn't actually say what they said I said: "It was hellish - so much killing just for fins".
They just made it up. Welcome to the world of tabloid journalism.
But I think it's fine if this newspaper can bring the issue to the wider attention of four million readers in the UK, many of whom have probably never heard of shark finning before. Only one of those people need to see it, be inspired, take action, and hopefully play a successful part in the shutting down of shark fisheries in Japan.
All the anti-shark finning Facebook groups, do not seem to have a problem with it either.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 18/07/2010 - 10:47pm.
Seriously you have fraud in your order of priorities...
Japan's catch is in continuous decline since 1950s.
Capture production 2008 (ton), FAO FishStat Plus 2010
1. Indonesia 107,290
2. India 81,237
3. Spain 55,790
4. Argentina 46,461
5. Taiwan 40,776
6. United States 36,906
7. Mexico 29,315
8. Malaysia 23,011
9. Portugal 19,560
10. Japan 18,249
13. New Zealand 15,965
16. France 14,980
17. Iran 11,678
18. Australia 8,439
26. United Kingdom 5,779
44. China 2,488
Before accusing me of fraud, which is a actually a very serious allegation to make against a reporter, have you ever wondered why Japan's annual shark catch is in decline since the 1950's?
It is because the number of sharks in the Pacific Ocean is in serious decline since the 1950's.
Please scroll down to the bottom of this website to see a Japan Fisheries Agency chart on how shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific due to aggressive and unsustainable Japan shark fisheries:-
And do you really have the courage to accuse me of fraud publicly? Why do you hide under the name 'anonymous'? Come out and reveal yourself, if you want to be taken credibly.
Submitted by Joe aka Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 19/07/2010 - 9:20am.
I think the first graph of the following website puts Japan's catch in perspective. Click it to enlarge. Blue is Japan's catch, red is other countries'.
It show how the global catch grew and far surpassed Japan's catch. Japan is not the biggest catcher for the last 38 years, and its share has been less than 10% for the period except just one year. And for the last 20 years, Japan's catch is 4% on average.
If you look at the Pacific, you'll find a similar pattern though Japan's share is inevitablly bigger in the region. Again for the last 20 years, Japan's catch is 10% on average which means 90% of the catch is done by other countries. While Japan's catch has been in decline, other countries began to increase their catch continuously. (source: FAO FishStat Plus 2010)
Now, it's difficult to tell if shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific simply because nobody has ever done serious research on the sustainability, of which Japan certainly shares the blame with other countries (and I believe countries on the Pacific rim are now trying to compensate belatedly).
But you went too far in your claim: "shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific due to aggressive and unsustainable Japan shark fisheries". It is simply not a statement supported by the FAO data.
I mentioned "fraud" because I thought you are knowingly ignoring these wider considerations and focusing on Japan. If you didn't know the facts and made the false statement, I will gladly withdraw my words with sincere apology. In the latter case, you are just ignorant. You just failed to put matters in a context.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 20/07/2010 - 12:32pm.
O.K,guys.
It is horrible photos,I know.
But is it such a unique massacre ?
Is it a only one slaughterhouse in the world ?
And the body will be material of Surimi.
What is the difference between eating shark fin and surimi ?
"Cruel old tradition" and "Healty Fashionable trend" ?
I am just curious,what is the difference between killing cattles or chickens for eating and killing whales and sharks.
Cattles ,others also have emotion,not only whales and sharks.
Because of propagandas of western food culture ?
Please open your eyes widely,before speaking.
I know it is very delicate subject,but if you talk without much correct information,it will be one-sided.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 20/07/2010 - 12:35pm.
O.K,guys.
It is horrible photos,I know.
But is it such a unique massacre ?
Is it a only one slaughterhouse in the world ?
And the body will be material of Surimi.
What is the difference between eating shark fin and surimi ?
Please open your eyes widely,before speaking.
I know it is very delicate subject,but if you talk without much collect information,it will be one-sided.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 21/07/2010 - 5:28pm.
To Anonymous, Tue, 20/07/2010 - 12:32pm:
Personally, I don't eat either, but, cows and chickens do not take as long as whales and sharks to mature.
Cows can give birth when they are 2 and chickens can start laying within half a year. Sharks and whales take many years, depending on the species, before they can have young, and don't have very many.
I don't know why so many people are bashing the Japanese here. They are not breaking any international rules (from what I can tell), in fact, they land all their sharks with fins attached. Japan is only globally the 10th major shark harvestor and they aren't hiding anything or trying to circumvent the law.
Submitted by RD (not verified) on Thu, 22/07/2010 - 11:54am.
Sad!!!! The shark should have been left in the sea. Sharks are being fished out everywhere. Sharks reproduce in a really slow rate. Humans really don’t know what they are doing. Overfishing will backfire on us. Shark meat also contains massive amounts of toxic material. It’s not good to eat.
Submitted by John Williams (not verified) on Tue, 27/07/2010 - 1:31am.
One of the reasons this is a problem is that sharks are harvested, and not grown like animals mentioned above like cows and sheep and chickens. Sharks are not domesticated animals.
Japan is just one example, many nations do this as anyone can see above from the lists. This is not Japan-bashing, this is just footage of how a fish market works and many many people have not seen one.
Harvesting sharks is not sustainable. Yes, at least they are using the whole fish in some countries (like Japan, apparently). Other countries they do not bother hauling the whole fish in as there is not a market for most of it. They just want the fins.
The idea here, gang, is not to target one country or a race of people. The idea is to show that sharks are not farmed, nor are most of the fish we consume (though some can be grown successfully, like salmon). With the population what it is, and with fishing methods getting better and better with the use of modern technology, if something is not done, we'll find ourselves with nothing left.
Submitted by Jacqueline Mortlock (not verified) on Thu, 29/07/2010 - 4:03pm.
"The oceans are the planet's last great living wilderness, man's only remaining frontier on earth, and perhaps his last chance to prove himself a rational species."
A wise person said that and I hope we havent passed the tipping point that will decide the future of this beautiful world we so love to desecrate.
Currently in Japan
Hey Alex, great work fella. In Japan airport right now waiting for flight back to Hongkers. Been filming beautiful sharks in Hawaii to try and balance out the horror stuff. Shocking images, but expected all the same eh! Sitting here in Narita Airport in my Sea Shepherd hoodie. Wondered why I was getting a few strange looks, didn't click at first, duh! Anyway it's providing me with a little entertainment for the 5hr layover. Seeya soon fella, and great job again!!!
Thanks!
Thanks for exposing this...
Amazing stuff! Thanks for
Amazing stuff! Thanks for sharing. This is indeed a much more humane way of handling the sharks, instead of throwing them back into the sea.
I will look out for Japanese Shark Fins the next time, they are so much more meticulous in their handling as compared to the chinese. Very efficient too! Do they utilize the meat of the sharks as well? It will be a shame to waste it.
What a terrible sight!
What a terrible sight!
Awful but very powerful images
Well done Alex, pictures that really illustrate the scale and the horror of this business
Horrific-and that's definitely an understatement.
These photos make me sick to my stomach and I am ashamed, well more so, of being a member of the human race. We are nasty parasites...
Es terrible ver como las
Es terrible ver como las llamadas actividades "humanas" deberían llamarse realmente actividades inhumanas
ADD CAMPAIGN
LETS GET SOME MONEY TOGETHER FOR A MASSIVE ADD CAMPAIGN ON HKG'S MTR
Unreal and unforgivable!
This is decimation on a huge scale and really quite shocking. When will we as humans realise we cannot continue to treat the world in such a terrible way.
this is definitely better
this is definitely better than throwing the shark carcasses back into the sea. But it makes me sick to the bone. Looking at these images i want to cry. I feel like a few nations on this planet are destroying my future. Japan is definitely part of that.
Sharks
They say a picture tells a thousand words and yours do. Thanks for bringing these horrific images to our attention. If ever a group of animals needed protection it is sharks.
hmmm, well atleast they
hmmm, well atleast they didnt fin the shark and throw the carcass overboard, and so im guessing the whole shark is used ( skin, liver, meat etc).
yeah its sad that the northern blue fin tuna is endangered, but good news is that the southern blue fin tuna is doing Ok and seem to be managed well around australia.
Shark finning
It's hard to believe that humans consider themselves intelligent while we bring so many animal species to extinction and most people just don't care.
Disgusting and makes me
Disgusting and makes me sick. Seems Japan and similar countries are intent on over fishing whales and sharks until they're all gone. So sad :(
What's there to do?
If not confronted with the dire reality, it would be hard to believe. Is there an initiative or group, that needs support? A list to sign? Anything to express disgust and contempt, that will be delivered to the appropriate authorities?
TOTAL ABUSE OF WILDLIFE
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans continue to abuse the creatures of the Wild so BADLY?
Sickening sight, and so abhorrent to me and many others I imagine.
STOP this mutilation of a species. FOREVER!!!
TOTAL ABUSE OF WILDLIFE
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans continue to abuse the creatures of the Wild so BADLY?
Sickening sight, and so abhorrent to me and many others I imagine.
STOP this mutilation of a species. FOREVER!!!
TOTAL ABUSE OF WILDLIFE
Why oh why can they not see the light?
Why do humans abuse creature so the wild so badly?
This is totally abhorren to me and many others I imagine.
STOP THIS ABUSE FOR EVER. You greedy b......s!!!
Very touching and impressive ！
great documentary and photos, very touching and impressive though sad. have made little effort personally to help promote shark protection in china and hongkong and your story will surely inspire many people to help stop these brutal / irresponsible activities.
stop buying Japanese products
Its amazing such a proud and noble people with such a long history like the Japanese are destroying our oceans with there disrespect for our planet and animals one day when my grandchildren ask me were the Whales, Tuna, Dolphins and sharks went I'll say it was the Japanese. I personally wont be buying any more products from Japan.
And these are small blue sharks
A blue shark measures up to 3.8 metres long and typically weighs 138 to 181 kgs. Look how short these ones are and how easily they are picked up. On top of the senseless destruction on a massive scale of one of the apex predators that keep our oceans (the source of 80% of the planet's oxygen) healthy, we are now taking the juveniles before they have the chance to reproduce. Estimates of the global shark catch range from 73 to 110 million per year. Is it any wonder they are catching less now? Some shark populations are down by 97 (yes ninety seven) percent. Others are locally extinct, and it is not only the Chinese and the Japanese catching them (though they are the primary consumers), Spain supplies over 50% of the shark fins to the Hong Kong fish market.
So what's the issue here?
If they use all of the shark, then what is the problem here? It looks like their processing center is clean, efficient and well staffed. Are the sharks they harvest endangered? No. So what are people getting bent out of shape over? Is it the blood?
The broader issue is that
The broader issue is that the Japanese fishing fleet are taking out far too many sharks from the sea, and it is not sustainable. If it continues for much longer, according to a broad consensus among fisheries scientists, the marine eco-systems will simply collapse. This will result in mass exintion of species as well as hunger and starvation for the millions of people worldwide who depend on sustainable coastal fisheries as their primary source of protein.
Thanks
This is disgusting but we need to look it in the eye.
I'm getting past talking about this and am going to once again start support Sea Shepard in their fight against this, as well as sharing this with anyone i meet from China and Japan along with a description of how i feel in no uncertain terms. It's an ugly response i know... but what the hell else can one do? I've already stopped eating any seafood and have been encouraging others to do the same, but seeing things like this make passive responses seem impotent.
Must Be Stopped
Thanks alot for sharing this with everyone,
I really think that the Japaness Gvernment must do something about this or at least control the amount of sharks and make sure that the poor sharks meat get utilized insted of wasting it.
Other wise NO more sharks will remaining. I really wish Japan and anywhere ese they could do something about it. Thats realy sad.
Only one day
These Pictures are shocking but it is only one days production from a 6 day operation and shows only one site in one village, imagine the true picture when all the other places like this one are added to the slaughter.
Shark killers
Why do we just let these Japanese killers continue to plunder our marine environment whilst we cheer them on at FIFA World Cup, welcome their investments into our country and buy their cars? It's time to take action!
This is horrific, I've never
This is horrific, I've never seen industrial scale shark finning before, though even images of a single finned shark are shocking enough. I'm disgusted to say the here in New Zealand, this practice is still allowed in our waters.
PS to the person that commented "sad that the northern blue fin tuna is endangered, but good news is that the southern blue fin tuna is doing Ok" - sorry to burst your bubble, but southern bluefin tuna is in fact in an even worse state, the most recent population assessment was that less that 5% of the stock remains and the species is listed as critically endangered. Once again, I am ashamed to say that on the backdrop of global (insufficient) quota cuts on southern bluefin, New Zealand just passed an INCREASE in our bluefin quota.
It's appalling what we are doing to the oceans.
this is typical japan
this is typical japan bashing by ugly selfish redneck. you guys have never respect other cultures. but you can't stop Chinese appetite.
to hypocrites
it is interesting that the whites care about sharks life but never care about human life in Afgan and Iraq. they still slaughter thousands of unarmed civilians. people like you use Japanese as scapegoat because you redneck don't want to look at what happens in Afgan or Iraq.
What the F@#K!!!
This is just plain fucking sick, a complete waste, & utterly stupid to kill a species as a whole just for its fins! I wish I could cull all the assholes that are part of this and chop off an arm or leg and see how they would like thier limbs being used for flavoring in a fucking soup! Humans..... The only species on this planet that will fuck over one of their own or any other species for a fucking dollar!!!
Thank's Alex for showing the
Thank's Alex for showing the world "real" and very very sad pictures....
It's 5 past 12..... :-(
Let's save as many sharks as possible...
regards from Basel, Switzerland
Sini
Why?
Tuna's gross weight has decreased. Therefore, let's decrease the haul. This can be understood.
The shark?Do you exterminate?
As a strange, Oriental culture, it is "It is interesting. " as for [surimi] and the sushi.
On the other hand, to exterminate it, the traditional food culture of Japan is planned unfounded , saying that "It is cruel" and "It is barbarous".
It eats the dog in South Korea and China.
The insect also eats in Cambodia etc.
Bird's chicken under hatching also feeds.
It eats the whale also in Alaska.
"It is cruel", "It is barbarous", and "It is not possible to permit. "
"All gastronomic cultures different from us and the cultures not received cannot be permitted. "
"Cannot Japan permit why?"
Will the racism of Western Europe exterminate the Japanese culture by a new yellow whirlpool theory?
Why?
Tuna's gross weight has decreased. Therefore, let's decrease the haul. This can be understood.
Is the shark exterminated?
As a strange, Oriental culture, it is "It is interesting. " as for [surimi] and the sushi.
On the other hand, to exterminate it, the traditional food culture of Japan is planned unfounded , saying that "It is cruel" and "It is barbarous".
It eats the dog in South Korea and China.
The insect also eats in Cambodia etc.
It eats the whale also in Alaska.
"It is cruel", "It is barbarous", and "It is not possible to permit. "
"All gastronomic cultures different from us and the cultures not received cannot be permitted. "
"Cannot Japan permit why?"
Will the racism of Western Europe exterminate the Japanese culture by a new yellow whirlpool theory?
"Fishing of the shark" is not made basic in Kesen'numa.
The shark that hangs in the net is only made for food when other fishing is done.
hello
hello
Wake-up calls being ignored
If nothing else, the sheer number of sharks here is absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. These aren't even big sharks, they are the smaller ones - likely juveniles! It takes 15-20 years for a shark to reach sexual maturity. If the number of potential breeding animals are wiped out at this rate, the results will be disastrous. The loss of this many young animals will have an impact on the overall population being able to sustain itself, or even recover from the damage done. If one thinks that the quantity shown here won't have an impact - you are so frighteningly wrong. The impact of this will not just affect the shark population, but the natural balance in the ocean that WILL affect ALL life if damaged. Please refer to "End of the Line" or "Sharkwater", and even try diving to see for yourself, the increasing acidification of the ocean as a result of the natural ecosystem being affected. I don't care what culture is causing this, it has to stop - our lives...all of us...depend on it.
Citibank shark fin promotion
I just saw that Citibank is offering a promotional discount on shark fin soup in Hong Kong. I have written to them (just using their "contact us" submission form as I did not have any name or contact details for a relevant manager) - sent them your photo essay and urged them not to help fuel this cruel, wasteful ecological tragedy. The link is below in case others wish to contact them as well.
~ K
Citibank promotion: http://www.citiworldprivileges.com/search/?keywords=maxim%27s&location_c...
Stop the crocodile tears, white men
It is in white men's blood that they treat animals better than humans. They enslaved black Africans, decimated native Americans and Australian Aborigines without shedding a drop of tear, but it comes to animals they are quick to point their fingers at non-white.
Shut up, you retard. You
Shut up, you retard. You call yourself 'stopracism' and then bandy about words like 'whites' and 'rednecks'. If you wanna stop racism look in the mirror first, then the dictionary......
Th future of sharks can have an effect on every person on this planet, no-one knows for sure. This happens to be in Japan, but it happens in other countries too.... Where, and by whom is immaterial. IT NEEDS TO STOP !!!
FYI
Just an information.
Japan seems to be the 9th shark catcher in 2000-2007.
(Spain is 3rd, USA is 8th)
http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_fish34.pdf
Oh! You are really LIER!!
This photo can be taken normal market. There is NO SECRET.
Fishers catch Tuna and same time capture sharks.
We eat sharks, like Germans do to pigs, as kamaboko.
You don't know Japanese Culture. Lol
Slaughter
I thought I'd never say this but worst than BP or Hitler.
I don't necessarily agree
I don't necessarily agree with your agenda, but that is now why I am leaving comments. I am just curious what you think about the The Sun article. You were quoted as "It was hellish - so much killing just for fins," while you wrote here "It is said that every part of every shark landed at Kesen-numa is processed there and then consumed. Even it's heart." You might have not meant that the Japanese only uses fins and discard everything, but apparently that was the impression that the readers of The Sun. I also find it interesting to see that you seem to be somewhat critical of tabloid sensationalism, yet you were a willing participant when it served your cause.
Response to comment by Passerby...
FYI, I didn't actually say what they said I said: "It was hellish - so much killing just for fins".
They just made it up. Welcome to the world of tabloid journalism.
But I think it's fine if this newspaper can bring the issue to the wider attention of four million readers in the UK, many of whom have probably never heard of shark finning before. Only one of those people need to see it, be inspired, take action, and hopefully play a successful part in the shutting down of shark fisheries in Japan.
All the anti-shark finning Facebook groups, do not seem to have a problem with it either.
http://www.facebook.com/BanquetGoersSayNoToSharkFinning?v=wall
If it gets the message out there in some way or form, even if it is through questionable tabloid journalism, so be it.
It's easy to criticize from afar...
Statistics shows
Seriously you have fraud in your order of priorities...
Japan's catch is in continuous decline since 1950s.
Capture production 2008 (ton), FAO FishStat Plus 2010
1. Indonesia 107,290
2. India 81,237
3. Spain 55,790
4. Argentina 46,461
5. Taiwan 40,776
6. United States 36,906
7. Mexico 29,315
8. Malaysia 23,011
9. Portugal 19,560
10. Japan 18,249
13. New Zealand 15,965
16. France 14,980
17. Iran 11,678
18. Australia 8,439
26. United Kingdom 5,779
44. China 2,488
TOTAL 736,491
Hey anonymous!
Before accusing me of fraud, which is a actually a very serious allegation to make against a reporter, have you ever wondered why Japan's annual shark catch is in decline since the 1950's?
It is because the number of sharks in the Pacific Ocean is in serious decline since the 1950's.
Please scroll down to the bottom of this website to see a Japan Fisheries Agency chart on how shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific due to aggressive and unsustainable Japan shark fisheries:-
http://www.pangeaseed.com/pangea/samenyusu/Entries/2010/6/18_qi_xian_zha...
And do you really have the courage to accuse me of fraud publicly? Why do you hide under the name 'anonymous'? Come out and reveal yourself, if you want to be taken credibly.
just trying to give a different perspective
I think the first graph of the following website puts Japan's catch in perspective. Click it to enlarge. Blue is Japan's catch, red is other countries'.
http://kokushi.job.affrc.go.jp/H20/H20_33.html
It show how the global catch grew and far surpassed Japan's catch. Japan is not the biggest catcher for the last 38 years, and its share has been less than 10% for the period except just one year. And for the last 20 years, Japan's catch is 4% on average.
If you look at the Pacific, you'll find a similar pattern though Japan's share is inevitablly bigger in the region. Again for the last 20 years, Japan's catch is 10% on average which means 90% of the catch is done by other countries. While Japan's catch has been in decline, other countries began to increase their catch continuously. (source: FAO FishStat Plus 2010)
Now, it's difficult to tell if shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific simply because nobody has ever done serious research on the sustainability, of which Japan certainly shares the blame with other countries (and I believe countries on the Pacific rim are now trying to compensate belatedly).
But you went too far in your claim: "shark numbers are collapsing in the Pacific due to aggressive and unsustainable Japan shark fisheries". It is simply not a statement supported by the FAO data.
I mentioned "fraud" because I thought you are knowingly ignoring these wider considerations and focusing on Japan. If you didn't know the facts and made the false statement, I will gladly withdraw my words with sincere apology. In the latter case, you are just ignorant. You just failed to put matters in a context.
The body for Surimi.
O.K,guys.
It is horrible photos,I know.
But is it such a unique massacre ?
Is it a only one slaughterhouse in the world ?
And the body will be material of Surimi.
What is the difference between eating shark fin and surimi ?
"Cruel old tradition" and "Healty Fashionable trend" ?
I am just curious,what is the difference between killing cattles or chickens for eating and killing whales and sharks.
Cattles ,others also have emotion,not only whales and sharks.
Because of propagandas of western food culture ?
Please open your eyes widely,before speaking.
I know it is very delicate subject,but if you talk without much correct information,it will be one-sided.
The body for Surimi.
O.K,guys.
It is horrible photos,I know.
But is it such a unique massacre ?
Is it a only one slaughterhouse in the world ?
And the body will be material of Surimi.
What is the difference between eating shark fin and surimi ?
Please open your eyes widely,before speaking.
I know it is very delicate subject,but if you talk without much collect information,it will be one-sided.
To Anonymous, Tue,
To Anonymous, Tue, 20/07/2010 - 12:32pm:
Personally, I don't eat either, but, cows and chickens do not take as long as whales and sharks to mature.
Cows can give birth when they are 2 and chickens can start laying within half a year. Sharks and whales take many years, depending on the species, before they can have young, and don't have very many.
I don't know why so many people are bashing the Japanese here. They are not breaking any international rules (from what I can tell), in fact, they land all their sharks with fins attached. Japan is only globally the 10th major shark harvestor and they aren't hiding anything or trying to circumvent the law.
Sad!!!! The shark should
Sad!!!! The shark should have been left in the sea. Sharks are being fished out everywhere. Sharks reproduce in a really slow rate. Humans really don’t know what they are doing. Overfishing will backfire on us. Shark meat also contains massive amounts of toxic material. It’s not good to eat.
Sharks cannot be grown
One of the reasons this is a problem is that sharks are harvested, and not grown like animals mentioned above like cows and sheep and chickens. Sharks are not domesticated animals.
Japan is just one example, many nations do this as anyone can see above from the lists. This is not Japan-bashing, this is just footage of how a fish market works and many many people have not seen one.
Harvesting sharks is not sustainable. Yes, at least they are using the whole fish in some countries (like Japan, apparently). Other countries they do not bother hauling the whole fish in as there is not a market for most of it. They just want the fins.
The idea here, gang, is not to target one country or a race of people. The idea is to show that sharks are not farmed, nor are most of the fish we consume (though some can be grown successfully, like salmon). With the population what it is, and with fishing methods getting better and better with the use of modern technology, if something is not done, we'll find ourselves with nothing left.
Can humanity replace what it so willingly takes?
"The oceans are the planet's last great living wilderness, man's only remaining frontier on earth, and perhaps his last chance to prove himself a rational species."
A wise person said that and I hope we havent passed the tipping point that will decide the future of this beautiful world we so love to desecrate.
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