Dedi Wong
Eng 214.06
8/11/11
My position
In May, California passed a ban on
the sale and distribution of shark
fins. I support the ban, because
even though shark fins are
considered as a delicacy, shark
finning is a cruel act , which should
be stopped.
Basic information
about sharks
Sharks, the top predators of the
ocean, are regarded as an “eating
machine” due to eating habits,
ranging from fishes to humans.
They have been around for 400
million years and play an
important part in maintaining the
marine food web.
http://www.coolfacts.in/wpcontent/uploads/2011/04/shark-goes-afterseal-photo-credit-national-geographic.jpg
What is shark
finning?
According to the Ecologist, “shark
finning is the practice of cutting
off the shark's fins and throwing
the still living shark back into the
sea to die”. Shark fins are one of the
world’s most valuable fisheries
products. And according to NGO
WildAid, shark finning is
responsible for the 90 percent
decline in shark population over
the last 50 years.
http://blogs.discovery.com/photos/uncategorize
d/2008/07/22/conservation2sharkfinning.jpg
Bycatch
Large numbers of sharks are taken
as bycatch because of longline
fishing, which is a method
involving a long line attached with
hooks.
http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2010/03/longlinefishing1.jpg
Sharks’ growth
Sharks are particular vulnerable to
overfishing due to their slow
growth and late maturity.
Accoridng to Current Science,
“most large sharks do not reach
sexual maturity until the age of
seven years or later, and only give
birth to a few pups each year”.
http://cdn.naldzgraphics.net/wpcontent/uploads/2010/03/13-shark-family-photo.jpg
Effects of shark
finning
The increased demand for shark
fins has endangered many shark
species. It is estimated that by 2017,
20 species of sharks could become
extinct.
http://museumvictoria.com.au/pages/23747/00000930
6l.gifweb.gif
Market for shark
fins
More than 125 countries around
the world trade in shark related
products, which created an
industry with high returns. In Asia,
shark fins sell up to $700/kg and
larger sharks can worth thousands
of dollars.
http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2011/02/14/b
a-sharkfin15_PH_0502981378.jpg
Grading for shark
fins
According to Current Science, The
shark fins are “graded by type, size,
color, and other factors such as
moisture content, smell and the
cut”.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36
/Yokohama_Chinese_Medicine_Shark_fin_large.jpg
Shark fin soup
Shark fins are almost tasteless and
the soup is always flavored with
chicken stock. The soup is often
served at important events such as
weddings and state functions.
Accorinding to the New York
Times, it is estimated that “73
million are slaughtered solely for
their fins to provide the shark fin
soup that is so popular in Asia”.
Status symbol
According to the Ecologist, “In the
next 10 years there will be up to 250
million relatively middle class
urban-living people with
disposable income in a highly
aspirational culture, where the
need and social benefits of
showing off wealth are high. This
will mean a potentially higher
demand for shark fin soup because
of the status it confers on both the
giver and receiver.”
http://kennaecodiving.net/scubablog/wpcontent/uploads/2009/03/large-shark-fins-for-sale-inhong-kong.bmp
Faux shark fin soup
According to KTSF, “Corey spent at
least a year to create a combination
of hydrocolloids to imitate the
texture of real shark fins. Shark fin
strands are made of broth that is
cooked with traditional
ingredients including chicken and
Jin-Hua ham.”
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/Shark%20fin.JPG
Growing HK Campaign Against
Eating Shark’s Fin
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-GYfUn-1T0
Sharkwater trailer
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtxA4wuXzY
References:
 "Endangered Predator." New York Times, (2011): 20-19.
 Kettles, Nick. "Revealed: how demand for shark fin soup fuels bloody




harvest." Ecologist 40.20 (2011): 10-13. Academic Search Premier.
EBSCO. Web. 26 July 2011.
Medha. "Shark fin losing its lustre; Once a must at Chinese weddings,
the luxury item is losing favour with young couples. " The Vancouver
Sun 11 Jul 2011, ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 26 Jul. 2011.
V. K. Dhargalkar, et al. "Shark hunting -- an indiscriminate trade
endangering elasmobranchs to extinction." Current Science
(00113891) 92.8 (2007): 1078-1082. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO.
Web. 26 July 2011.
Wasley, Andrew. "Unsavoury truths…." Ecologist 40.20 (2011):
2. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 July 2011.
http://www.ktsf.com/news/en_news/reporter/052511nofindish_en.htm
l