The most recent shows that globally, on average, 38 million sharks are traded annually for their fins. Although some international fisheries organizations have banned shark fining, regulating trade of shark fins and other products is critical to protect many shark and ray species, including oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays, now threatened by the growing shark-fin trade. These important top-tier predators-which are found in Philippine waters- are important to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Thimas, H. K. Jr. (2013, March 10). 'Be nice to sharks'. The Philippine Star, p. 14.