Shark Finning Basics
The process of Shark Finning is where Shark Fisheries, which are fishermen who fin sharks for a profit, hunt and net as many sharks as possible, cut the fins off and throw back the shark bodies.
A Few Things to Think About
Shark Finning has a long history that starts in China. It started as something where only a few wealthy emperors and nobles could afford the high cost. Eventually it turned into a worldwide practice and the number of sharks have drastically declined.
Shark Finning is inhumane. When sharks are caught, they are brought on deck alive, their fins are are cut off, and the bodies are dumped back in the ocean. Once they are back in the ocean the sharks will either drown or be eaten. Either way they don't survive. Shark Finning is unsustainable. Sharks are caught and killed at a rate higher than what they can produce. At this rate some shark shark species could be extinct in the next 20 years. Shark Finning is impractical. Traditional uses for Shark Fin is mainly for soup and some medicines. The fin has little or no nutritional value and has a high level of mercury. Shark Finning is unregulated. There are no guidelines for which sharks to take, how to process them, and how many to take. Shark Finning is very profitable. A single pound of shark fin can earn from $300 to $500. What Does This Mean?
Shark Finning has deep roots in tradition as well as our economy. Many people profit from the sale of the fins. This makes it difficult to stop the practice. However, because the soup has deep traditional significance it may be possible to slow the rate of Shark Finning by educating and changing the tradition for the Shark Fin soup.
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