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| Rows and rows of shark fins |
Shark finning is one of the biggest dangers to sharks. Shark
fin soup is a delicacy in many places, especially in China. Every year, millions
of sharks are caught by fisherman, have their fins removed, and are through
back into the ocean to die. Often the sharks are still living when their fins
are removed, and most of the animal is wasted. Sharks are especially vulnerable
species because they take so long to mature and don’t produce many young.
Almost half of over 400 shark species are on the ICUN Red List.
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| A shark left to die after having its fins removed |
The best solution to protect sharks from shark finning would
be to, well, end the demand for shark fin soup. Many organizations are fighting
to protect sharks by proposing laws against the practice. Several countries,
organizations, and even airlines have taken measures to decrease shark finning
and the consumption of shark fin soup. China, Massachusetts, the UAE, Thai
Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and WildAid have all contributed to
the recent decline of shark finning.
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| Shark fin soup |
The demand for shark fin soup, called “fish wing soup” in Mandarin
Chinese, is very high in China. It is a delicacy, and so many fishermen seek to
capitalize on the consumers’ desire for the dish. To the Chinese in particular,
it is a symbol of status and generosity. Due to the value of shark fin soup to
Chinese culture, there has been considerable opposition to the fight against
shark finning. Shark fin soup is one of the “big four” Chinese dishes, along
with abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw. Unfortunately, many Chinese consumers
did not realize until recently that “fish wing soup” is made with shark fins
due to the somewhat misleading name. It wasn’t until consumers were made aware
of the threat to the shark populations that they began to stand up for the
protection of sharks and the removal of shark fin soup from menus.
The Chinese government and consumers have taken steps to
reduce the consumption of shark fin soup and, by extension, shark finning.
Shark fin soup has been banned from being served at all official government
banquets, and the general demand for shark fin soup has decreased to less than half
of what it once was. The UAE has cracked down on shark fishing in its waters,
particularly to reduce the amount of shark fishing for fins only. Three Asian
airlines, Thai Airways, Cebu Pacific, and Singapore Airlines, have banned the transportation
of shark fins. While shark finning is illegal in the U.S., it’s still legal to
sell shark fin soup in some places, so recently Massachusetts banned the sale
of shark fin products. These actions have helped to restore some shark
populations and bode well for the future of the various species.
There are not many negative side
effects to the decrease of shark finning. I suppose it could have a negative
effect on the businesses of shark fishers, however it could be argued that they
will benefit in the long run due to the replenishing of populations. Some may
even say that it is dangerous to replenish shark populations due to the threat
they pose as a predatory species, however sharks are not actually as dangerous
to humans as most people believe and actually hold a very important role in our
oceans’ food chains. By reducing the demand for shark fin soup and shark
finning, shark populations will continue to grow and flourish, balancing out
the ecosystems in which they live. Protecting sharks from being finned will
save many species.
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