Illegal shark fin trading continues to thrive despite international regulations, putting several shark species at heightened risk of extinction, according to new research cited by the New York Post.

A peer-reviewed study published in Science Advances found that fins from four out of five shark species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 2014 remain widely sold in Hong Kong, the world’s largest shark fin trading hub.

The research, led by scientists from Florida International University, identified protected species—including scalloped, smooth, and great hammerhead sharks, as well as porbeagle and oceanic whitetip sharks—still entering global markets at alarming rates.

Researchers said the findings point to widespread noncompliance with CITES rules, which require all trade involving protected species to be reported and certified as non-threatening to survival. The study noted that 81 percent of shark-fin-exporting countries have never reported trade involving these listed species, suggesting ongoing illegal exports.

Hong Kong remains the central marketplace for shark fins, which are commonly used in luxury dishes such as shark fin soup. The demand continues to drive shark finning, a practice where fins are cut from live sharks that are then discarded back into the ocean.

Scientists warned that without meaningful reductions in fishing and trade, some shark species could disappear entirely, triggering unpredictable consequences for marine ecosystems. Still, researchers said exposing the scale of illegal trade is a critical step toward enforcement and conservation efforts.