Shark finning

[Randy]

“Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of the shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish.” or starve to death. Many don’t bother taking the meat from a shark other than its fins due to its price it can be bought for.

Fins make a lot more money. Over past years the demand for shark fins have increased dramatically. They are used for shark fin soup, which is a showing of wealth in the Chinese culture, and traditional cures and with the advancement we have made in technology for catching them, it can be easy. Many fisherman just bring the shark fins to shore instead of the entire shark because fins are worth a lot more money than the rest of the body. A pound of fin can be sold for as much as $500. Approximately, 100 million sharks are killed each year. With their slow reproduction rates, this puts their population at a high risk. Today some shark populations have decreased by 60-70%. Losing sharks can not only affect the population but can affect what happens to the ocean. Sharks indirectly maintain the seagrass and coral reef habitats and the loss of sharks have has led to a decline in both those and the loss of commercial fisheries. Without coral reefs and sharks there is a huge decrease to the herbivores due to the increase of those who feed on them.Finally people are starting to realize what we are doing to these sharks are not right. Since 1994, 22 countries have placed regulations in their area on shark finning.

What are your thoughts about this?

 

[PGen98]

Just like ivory hunting, it needs to stop. That's animal cruelty, torture. Sharks are dangerous predators, sure, but to do that is grotesque and wrong!

 

[MrDawn]

Crap like this leads to the extinction of a necessary species that gives the ecosystem balance. Killing one leads to the death of another.

 

[Spice]

That is cruel.

 

[Kale]

I don't even like shark fin soup. This stuff needs to stop.

 

[Nebulous]

I don't even like shark fin soup. This stuff needs to stop.

Have you tried it? What does it taste like?