Contains Shark. Know Your Choice.

Sharks for food, in cosmetics, or in pills? Greater transparency and clear rules help effectively protect sharks and our oceans. Support the campaign!

Why

Sharks are an endangered species. Consumers need more transparency when it comes to shark products.

Location

International Campaign

Goal

Awareness about shark products, inform about linked threats, and establish a new legal framework.

Long-term impact

Why it’s important to support the project:

Laws to better protect sharks: Sustainable fishing, marine protected areas, and bans on imports and fishing are among the solutions for shark conservation and ultimately for the marine ecosystem.
Mandatory labeling of shark products: Information about which products contain shark meat raises awareness of how everyone can protect sharks in their daily lives—including through their purchasing decisions.
Focus on plant-based alternatives: Squalene doesn’t have to disappear as an ingredient; it just doesn’t have to come from animals anymore. Squalene can also be derived from olives or wheat, for example.

Backgrounds

When you walk through a supermarket or pharmacy, or browse an online store, you’re likely to come across products containing shark. However, this is only apparent if you look very closely at the package insert or are familiar with certain technical terms. The “Contains Shark. Know Your Choice.” campaign aims to change that and raise awareness of the issue.

Cosmetics may contain a substance known as squalene. Squalene is found in cod liver, as well as in olives, wheat, and other grains.
The belly flap of the spiny dogfish is a well-known dish that is widely served in Germany and other European countries: “Schillerlocke.”
Some dietary supplements may also contain animal-derived squalene.
Pet food may also contain cod liver oil or shark.

And these are just a few of the many examples of products that contain shark parts. In our blog posts, we provide background information on the campaign and tips on how you can help protect sharks and the oceans.

Unterwasseraufnahme mit Korallen / Copyright Jan Bierwirth — Jan Bierwirth

What threat does this pose to the oceans?

The presence of shark products poses an ecological risk. It accelerates the decline of various shark species and threatens the entire marine ecosystem. Sharks play a vital role in the marine ecosystem.

What is the risk to our health?

Food chain: If there are fewer sharks, there are more sick fish. This leads to diseases entering the food chain on land via the fish.
Health risk: Shark products may contain toxins (including methylmercury). There are currently no regulations in place regarding this.

Why is shark meat even sold?

One answer is: bycatch. In “unsustainable” fishing operations, many shark species end up in the nets as so-called bycatch. The legal situation regarding what happens to sharks caught as bycatch varies depending on the species. You can find more information on the legal situation in this blog post!

Bans and laws aren’t limited to bycatch: The “Schillerlocke,” or spiny dogfish, is sold as a specialty in Germany—there is no import ban on this endangered shark species. In Austria, for example, there is already an import ban, and in Switzerland, a petition is currently underway to ban the import of shark and ray products! Click here for more information on the petition in Switzerland!

Our Calls for Action:

Stricter regulations on fishing and imports
Reforming fisheries to promote sustainable fishing: More protected areas and fewer or no bycatch, thereby protecting the marine ecosystem and, consequently, the habitat of sharks.
Mandatory labeling for products containing shark, so that everyone can make a difference.
Use plant-based alternatives: for example, extract squalene from wheat or olives.

Why is your support so important?

With the “Contains Shark. Know Your Choice” campaign, we’re raising awareness and working to preserve healthy shark populations worldwide. Support Sharkproject International—so that together we can move closer to our goal, step by step.

The Sharkproject International team will approach policymakers with demands for legislation (stricter regulation of fishing and imports, mandatory labeling of shark products). A great example to follow is the ban on shark product imports in Austria.

We are committed to sustainable fishing in the EU and have drafted a statement on this issue together with Pro Wildlife.

Support our work so that we can reach our goal step by step!

Every little piece of the puzzle can help protect sharks and the oceans. And if you’d like, you can start right away by adding a piece to the puzzle in your daily life: Talk to friends and acquaintances about the issue, or take a closer look at the ingredient lists on your daily skincare products. Be part of protecting these fascinating animals—and, in doing so, the incredibly amazing marine ecosystem!