More Than Half Of 21 Pelagic Shark & Ray Species Surveyed At Risk Of Extinction - AFP

The first study to determine the global threat status of 21 species of wide-ranging oceanic pelagic sharks and rays reveals serious overfishing and recommends key steps that governments can take to safeguard populations.
These findings and recommendations for action are published in the latest edition of Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

This international study, organised by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG), was conducted by 15 scientists from 13 different research institutes around the world, with additional contributions from scores of other SSG members.

The experts determined that 16 out of the 21 oceanic shark and ray species that are caught in high seas fisheries are at heightened risk of extinction due primarily to targeted fishing for valuable fins and meat as well as indirect take in other fisheries.

In most cases, these catches are unregulated and unsustainable. The increasing demand for the delicacy 'shark fin soup', driven by rapidly growing Asian economies, means that often the valuable shark fins are retained and the carcasses discarded. Frequently, discarded sharks and rays are not even recorded. Sharks and rays are particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to their tendency to take many years to become sexually mature and have relatively few offspring.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Over_50_Percent_Of_Oceanic_Shark_Species_Threatened_With_Extinction_999.html

Mother Earth needs to rid herself of the parasite called humanity soon if she is to retain any other species. Jesus, they have not stopped harvesting fins for spoiled people? Do they know what they do to the sharks? Do they care?

I do NOT want to live on a planet made up of mostly humans and little else. Thank goodness I am old enough that I will see it happening but be long gone before all the things that make life worth living are gone. What a disaster we are.

In answer to your questions:
No, they have not stopped harvesting fins for spoiled people.
Yes, they know what they do to the sharks.
No, they don't care.

K&R for your first line:
> Mother Earth needs to rid herself of the parasite called humanity soon
> if she is to retain any other species.