Allen Shiu
In August, Discovery Channel ran its 25th Shark Week Special. This week-long television tribute to sharks has generated
quite a cult following in recent years. Originally intended to raise awareness for sharks, it has now evolved into a video montage of Jaws’ Greatest Hits. While the hazards of tangling with “Bruce” certainly shouldn’t be trivialized, who is really doing the killing?
It’s estimated that as many as 73 million sharks are killed annually by long line fishermen for a bowl of soup. Long considered a delicacy in Chinese cooking, shark fin soup was once a dish reserved only for royalty. The soup itself tastes of nothing. Almost like plain rice noodles and while the broth is certainly good, the fin itself adds nothing. This symbol of status can now be bought for upwards of $400 in upscale restaurants making it one of the most expensive soups in the world. This strive for status has contributed to the decimation of 95 percent of the species since the 1970s. Unfortunately, the number of sharks being killed for what amounts to 3 percent of its body is not what is most appalling. In probably one of the most barbaric and wasteful acts committed by human beings, hooked sharks have their fins sliced off, while they’re still alive. The actual meat of the shark however has little or no value to fisherman. What’s left of the shark, still wriggling in agony, is generally dumped back into the water where the shark will eventually drown.
Despite this, saving sharks from this cruel fate and eventual extinction is still in contention. In June, the New York State Senate did not vote on a bill banning the sale of imported shark fins. As a result, over 50 restaurants in New York City’s Chinatown will continue to serve shark fin soup. Some have argued that sharks aren’t worth saving. Species go extinct every day and sharks are predators after all; a danger to human beings. However, shark finning poses a real threat; not to just sharks but all marine life. When a species of shark goes extinct, other species in its ecosystem face problems with overpopulation that disrupt the entire food chain. No bowl of soup is worth that.
Filed under: animal cruelty, animal ethics, animal law | Tagged: animal abuse, animal ethics, animal law, animal welfare, environmental ethics, environmental law, shark finning, shark fins, shark week, sharks |
Animal Blawg 
I had no idea that NYC restaurants serve shark fin soup and that the NYS Senate didn’t vote to ban it.
Sharks need Yao Ming to pay a visit to the Empire State: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJG7RaLX-DM
Would you eat tiger soup? Of course not. It’s a species facing extinction. But if you eat shark fin soup, you could hasten the demise of animals facing a similar plight, because nearly a third of all shark species are in peril.
Indeed wasteful – And horrifying. I guess the bland taste of these sacrificed shark’s fins might also be compared to how unseasoned birds and other flesh tastes like… As you say – It tastes like nothing.
Yet, here we are executing untold billions of chickens, turkeys, ducks and so on for the taste of what could be added to tofu, tvp, seitan, ect. instead.
It seems birds sure aren’t worth saving… It doesn’t look like sharks are either. Frivolous human wants however? The sky and the deep blue sea hold no hint of limits.