shark fining

kia Ora bloggers Today i have something to share that is horrific 

So in  china and Hong Kong they do a horrific thing where

 they capture sharks and cut their fins off to make shark fin soup

Here is what i wrote:

What is shark finning

and why is it a problem?

Conservationist Mark Carwardine discusses the issue of shark finning.

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By Mark Carwardine

What is shark finning?

It is the gruesome practice of cutting off a

live shark’s fins and throwing the rest of the animal

back into the sea, where it dies a slow and painful death.

The fins are used in China and Hong Kong, and by

Chinese communities elsewhere in the world, as the key ingredient in shark-fin soup.

What’s shark-fin soup?

This glutinous broth is a traditional Chinese dish dating back more than 1,000 years.

Once a rare delicacy consumed only by the Chinese aristocracy, it played an important

role as an indicator of social standing. The fibres take on a consistency similar to noodles,

but they have virtually no taste or nutritional value, so chicken stock or something similar is

added to improve the flavour.

Blacktip reef shark, listed as Near

Threatened on the IUCN Red List, killed for its fins in West Papua, Indonesia. ©

Ethan Daniels/Getty

Why is it a problem?

In the past 20 years or so, the demand for shark-fin soup has rocketed.

It is still associated with privilege and social rank – a bowl of soup can

cost up to US$100 – but the explosive growth in the Chinese economy

means that hundreds of millions of people can now afford this luxury.

Many consider it de rigueur at important events such as weddings, birthdays,

business banquets and during Chinese New Year celebrations.

Shark-fin soup is also popular in traditional Chinese medicine (although research suggests that it contains so much mercury and other toxins it is barely fit for human

consumption). It is estimated that as many as 73 million sharks are killed for shark-fin

soup every year – an indiscriminate slaughter that is pushing many species to the brink of

extinction.

A bowl of shark’s fin soup. © Stefan Irvine/LightRocket/Getty

Why should we care?

Many people fear sharks and don’t care whether they survive or not.

But, ecologically, as top predators their disappearance will disrupt entire ocean

ecosystems. Economically, they are worth more alive than dead – in contrast to the

short-lived profits of shark finning, shark diving has become a sustainable, multi-million

pound business.

Scientifically, medical researchers want to learn how shark wounds heal so

quickly and how they seem to be resistant to cancer. Spiritually, an ocean without

sharks is unthinkable – like the Serengeti without lions.

Are sharks protected?

In 1999, the UN developed the International Plan of Action for the

Conservation and Management of Sharks, but no country is forced to

participate and progress has been slow. Beyond that, shark legislation varies

greatly between states, providing anything from zero (Hong Kong) to weak to full

protection (the Bahamas).

The US Shark Conservation Act 2010 requires that all sharks (except smooth dogfish)

be brought ashore with their fins intact. Many people believe this is the only way to

secure an enforceable ban on shark finning, while enabling the collection of species-

specific management data. The EU approved similar legislation in 2013, and other

countries are following suit. Trade in a number of shark species is banned or controlled

under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

What else can be done?

It is critical to reduce demand, by changing attitudes.

There are encouraging signs that shark-fin soup consumption

is declining and several dozen airlines and hotel chains have stopped serving it.

In 2012, the Chinese Government banned it at official functions, though the motive

was more for austerity than conservation.

Dried shark fins for sale in a Taipei market. © Craig Ferguson/LightRocket/Getty

What next?

Despite progress, shark-fin soup is still a long way from being relegated to history.

Also, a new problem has arisen: fishermen are switching to shark meat and creating

new appetites for a product that wasn’t popular before. In many countries trade in shark

meat has grown exponentially – so finning bans alone aren’t enough to reduce the

number of sharks being killed. A new approach is clearly needed.

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Authors

Mark Carwardine

 

What is shark finning? 

It is a practice that people catch sharks and fin

them and throw then back into the water to have a slow and painful death.

Why is it a delicacy?

 In the past 20 years or so, the demand for shark-fin

soup has rocketed. It is still associated with privilege and social rank – a bowl

of soup can cost up to US$100 – but the explosive growth in the Chinese economy

means that hundreds of millions of people can now afford this luxury. Many consider

r it de rigueur at important events such as weddings, birthdays, business banquets and

during Chinese New Year celebrations.Shark-fin soup is also popular in traditional Chinese

medicine

How is this impacting our oceans?

It is impacting our oceans because if it continues sharks

will go extinct and the ocean will die,because sharks help

keep fish populations under control and help the birds get their food