Climate

As silky sharks decline, Costa Rica’s dominant trade faces a reckoning

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 17:09:24 UTC.

Briefings

In 2018, shark biologist Diego Cardeñosa observed massive stacks of shark fins weighing over 50 kg each in Hong Kong, marking the first time he witnessed such quantities. This finding highlights the scale of shark fin trade despite CITES regulations, which aim to protect imperiled species. The evidence indicates a significant decline in shark populations over the last 50 years, with a 2024 study suggesting overfishing has halved populations of roughly 1,200 species since 1970.

Key points

• Biologist Diego Cardeñosa observed massive stacks of shark fins weighing over 50 kg each in Hong Kong in 2018, marking the first time he witnessed such quantities.
• A 2024 study found that overfishing has halved populations of roughly 1,200 species of sharks and rays since 1970.

Context

Shark fin soup is a major source of shark fin demand, while netting in vast numbers as bycatch contributes to the decline. The article discusses the trade in imperiled plants, wildlife, and their products regulated under CITES.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single observation from 2018 in Hong Kong. The article was originally published on Mongabay, and the specific average value mentioned in the text is incomplete.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 20/10/2026, 17:25:09 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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