Len Hanley: Shark finning, a form of animal cruelty, must be stopped

To The Daily Sun,

With the 2025 Shark Week just about over, I was hoping for pro-shark programming to educate viewers. But, again, I was disappointed.

"Cujo" is a 1981 novel by Stephen King that tells the story of a mother and her son trapped in a car by a rabid Saint Bernard. But no news media or television programs feature "Cujo"-inspired articles about dog attacks and fatalities. Why? To keep the truth from readers about sharks to gain their trust, ratings and profits, by keeping them indoctrinated.

That wasn't the worst of it, however, which brings me to the point of this letter.

In not one single television program did Discovery Channel feature shark finning and thus the harm humans cause to sharks, at a rate of between 70 and 100 million a year. Shark finning is a controversial practice that involves the removal of shark fins, often while the shark is still alive, for use in shark fin soup and other dishes. The rest of the living shark is dumped back in the ocean to drown, bleed out, and/or be eaten alive helplessly. It is cruel and wastes 95% of the animal, and is causing many species to be near extinction. Any shark is taken, including the harmless to humans whale shark.

Shark fin soup has a long-standing tradition in Chinese culture, where it is considered a delicacy and a symbol of wealth and status. A total of 14 states have banned it, but for some reason, New Hampshire is not among them. Also, FedEx continues to transport shark fins as of this year.

We must stop this wasteful and cruel practice, especially if readers are against animal cruelty, which this clearly is. Go to wildaid.org/programs/sharks to learn more.

Len Hanley

Barnstead