Trump's shark hatred boosts 'save sharks' donations

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US President Donald Trump's reported hatred for sharks has boosted financial donations to non-profit organizations working on marine life conservation.

The president’s fear of sharks was revealed by adult entertainment star Stormy Daniels in an interview with Touch Weekly magazine.

“I donate to all these charities and I would never donate to any charity that helps sharks. I hope all the sharks die,” Trump allegedly told Daniels.

Following publication of the interview, shark conservation groups report they are witnessing a surge in donations with the message, “Because Trump.”

CEO of WildAid Peter Knights told CGTN, "From our records, we see a few recent shark donations that specifically mention Trump. We greatly appreciate these, and any donations that support the protection of imperiled shark populations.”

WildAid has launched a series of campaigns on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong to stop the consumption and illegal trade of shark fins.

The non-profit organization protested against FedEx and a series of airlines for transporting shark fins in Hong Kong.

Trump tweets about his hatred for sharks. /Twitter Photo

A similar surge in donations was also reported by other non-profits too.

Cynthia Wilgren, chief executive officer and co-founder of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, based in Chatham, Massachusetts said most of the money has come from first-time donors.

“It can certainly be a challenge to raise money for a species that most people fear,” Wilgren told Market Watch.

Earlier, Trump again came under severe criticism for having shark fin soup during a state dinner in Vietnam last year.

Animal rights groups enraged over the presence of shark fin soup on the menu.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) president Azzedine Downes, said in a statement, “We are dismayed at the news that President Trump was served and ate shark fin soup during the recent state visit to Vietnam."

Humans biting into shark population

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) a quarter of the world’s sharks are threatened with extinction. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed every year for their meat, oils, and cartilage, and are also used in a range of products.

The primary cause of shark fishing is the popularity of shark fin soup - a delicacy in South East Asian countries and also a traditional medicinal food. In recent years, shark fin soup has reached tables in the Western world to become a prized item on the menu of expensive restaurants.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and China are one of the world's biggest markets for shark fins where it is commonly served as a soup at wedding banquets and corporate parties. /VCG Photo

US federal law bans shark finning, while shark fishing is regulated in more than 20 countries. Mass fishing, habitat loss and other factors have put the Pondicherry, Ganges, Natal, Daggernose, Striped Smooth-Hound, Smalltooth Sawfish, Sawback Angelshark, Angel, Sand Tiger, Porbeagle and Spiny Dogfish sharks in the critically endangered category.

WildAid, a leading group, working towards protection of sharks in Southeast Asia claims that shark fin soup is prepared after chopping off the fin of a shark and throwing the live shark back into the water.

The finless shark is unable to swim and eventually dies.

Chinese giving up on shark consumption

According to a WildAid report China is the largest shark fin market, but in the recent years, prices and sales of shark fin are falling by 50-70 percent.

In Guangzhou, shark fin vendors reported an 82 percent decline in sales, and 85 percent of Chinese consumers surveyed online said they have given up shark fin soup within the past three years.

Around 24 Chinese airlines, three shipping lines and five hotel groups have officially removed shark fin from their menu.

“Major Hong Kong restaurant groups like Maxim's are a huge part of the problem,” Knights said.