A performance artist hanged herself from shark fishing hooks to protest against the slaughtering of sharks.

Sharks are being slaughtered for their fins, meat, cartilage, liver and skin. According to recent studies, about 73 million sharks are killed every year. The data is three to four times higher than the official shark catch record maintained by United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

Alice Newstead, a British performer, bled from her back as she hanged herself from the shark fishing hooks pierced through the skin of her back, Reuters reported from Hong Kong on Tuesday.

See some of the heart-wrenching photos of the protester below:

Woman protests slaughter of sharks
British performance artist Alice Newstead hangs by shark fishing hooks to protest against the slaughtering of sharks for their fins, in Hong Kong June 14, 2011. REUTERS/Siu Chiu
Woman protests slaughter of sharks
British performance artist Alice Newstead hangs by shark fishing hooks to protest against the slaughtering of sharks for their fins, in Hong Kong June 14, 2011. REUTERS/Siu Chiu
Woman protests slaughter of sharks
British performance artist Alice Newstead hangs by shark fishing hooks to protest against the slaughtering of sharks for their fins, in Hong Kong June 14, 2011. REUTERS/Siu Chiu
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