Letter to FedEx: Stop Shipping Shark Fins!

Shari Sant Plummer, Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. James Ketchum encounter shark finning in Cabo Pulmo Marine Park in 2016.

To: Fred Smith, CEO, FedEx <FWSmith@fedex.com>
CC: Carmine Echols, Assistant to the CEO <executiveservices@fedex.com>
CC: Melissa Charbonneau, Director of Communications, FedEx <melissa.charbonneau@fedex.com>
CC: David Cunningham, President, FedEx Asia Pacific <DLCUNNINGHAM@fedex.com>

3875 Airways, Module H3
Department 4634
Memphis, TN38116

Dear Mr. Smith,

We are writing to inform you that we can no longer patronize FedEx, as we have done exclusively for the last 5 years, due to FedEx’s unfortunate policy that allows for the shipment of shark fins. As you may know, shark populations have been drastically depleted worldwide due to the legal and illegal shark fin trade. We believe that each individual and organization on the planet has a responsibility to do whatever is in their power to end this barbaric and senseless killing of one of the most ancient animals on Earth.

Like UPS, we share concerns about the enforcement capabilities of the authorities and potential inaccuracy of visual inspection used by experts as part of the certification process of CITES, which is an international agreement between governments to ensure trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Since the potential for misidentification presents an unacceptable business condition for UPS, how then can FedEx ensure that it is not breaking the law?

As the CEO of FedEx, you have more power than most to make a difference. We encourage you to update your shipment policies to reflect those of your competitors (such as UPS and DHL) to ensure that FedEx does not ship shark fins. We owe it to future generations to do everything in our power to prevent the ongoing, widespread killing of these majestic creatures. The world is watching. We sincerely hope you’ll make the right decision.

Respectfully,

Dr. Sylvia Earle and the Mission Blue Team