Inspectors with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seized roughly 50,000 dried shark fins at ports across the U.S. in October of 2025, the agency announced Monday.
In total, U.S. officials found more than 1,600 pounds of shark fins worth more than $1 million. The illegal goods were found in 20 different shipments disguised as car parts.
The first shipment of shark fins was found in Anchorage, Ala. The discovery led to more shark fin busts in Alaska, Louisville, Ky. and Cincinnati. The shipments are part of an illegal trafficking network sending the fins from Mexico to Hong Kong, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“The staggering number of fins were predominantly from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, both protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” the USFWS said. “All fins were seized for multiple violations of wildlife laws — another strong step forward in stopping the illegal trade of threatened species.”
Twenty-six boxes of shark fins seized in Anchorage, Ala. (USFWS)
Boxes of shark fins seized in Cincinnati. (USFWS)
Shark fins seized in Louisville, Ky. (USFWS)
Silky shark pectoral fins seized in Cincinnati. (USFWS)
The busts were part of “Operation Thunder,” an international effort to fight against illegal wildlife trade. The USFWS said that the violations were shared with “international partners” to help stop the illegal shark fin network.
The USFWS advises the public not to buy items containing shark fins. Any wildlife violations can be reported to the USFWS crime tips line.
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