History
Now a common staple worldwide, the dish, shark fin soup, can be traced back as far as 960 years to the Chinese Song dynasty. Created as a symbol of power and wealth, the expensive dish is often served at celebratory events such as weddings and banquets. Widespread popularity has created a large demand for shark fins and the fishing of these animals has proven a profitable market. However, the market for shark fins critically threatens the shark population and therefore, endangers the ecosystem’s balance. In addition to the environmental consequences of this demand, the process is widely considered inhumane. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey describes the finning process as the “worst act of animal cruelty” he has ever seen. The process includes slicing the fins off of live sharks and then tossing the finless animals overboard. Unable to swim, they sink to the bottom, die of blood loss, suffocate or get eaten by other predators.
Extent of Consumption
According to a 2006 study cited by The Hong Kong Shark Foundation, it is estimated over 73 million sharks are killed each year. In China, a campaign featuring celebrities and a national ban on serving shark fin at government banquets have reduced the Chinese consumption by over 80%. However, 80% of all shark fin consumption is still brokered through Hong Kong and over 98% of restaurants within the city still offer the dish. While the decrease in recent years is a good sign of progress, countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Macau have shown an increase in demand. According to CNN, surveys show that 61% of people surveyed in Thailand intend to consume shark fin in the future. This increase concerns researchers as well as conservationists as sharks become more threatened.
Conservation Efforts
Internationally, 31 countries have a full or partial ban on finning practices and the serving of shark fin soup and 22 countries including The Bahamas, Egypt, Fiji, and Israel have a total ban on the fishing for sharks. Additionally, over 45 airlines have full blanket bans on the transportation of shark fins. Within the United States, the Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act bans the trading of shark fins within the country. Fishing for sharks is also illegal in U.S. water. However, the shark fin trade persists as the laws are not heavily reinforced and much of the trade occurs underground.
Other Concerns
According to French conservation organization Bloom, squalene (shark liver oil) is a common ingredient in many health and cosmetic products. The oil can be most frequently found in moisturizers and serums. An estimated 3 million sharks are captured annually to supply this demand.
Sources:
Commentaires