Help Stop Shark Finning!

Submitted by Tracey Smith on September 7, 2009 – 6:40 pmNo Comment

Sea Shepherd Society Photo

Shark finning is the barbaric practice of cutting off a shark’s fins and throwing it’s still living body back into the sea.

The result is a slow and agonizing death for the shark from starvation, suffocation (if they are not in constant movment their gills cannot extract oxygen from from the water) or being eaten alive by other fish. Fishermen are only interested in the fins because shark meat is of low economical value and takes up too much space in the hold.

It is estimated that somewhere between 70 and 100 million sharks per year are killed due to the increasing demand for the asian delicacy of shark fin soup which can sell for $150 per bowl.

A symbol of wealth and status in Chinese culture, shark fin soup has long been an essential part of banquet celebrations for weddings and to welcome the Lunar New Year. Until recently, only the rich could afford the soup. But demand has soared in recent years, hand-in-hand with rising affluence in East Asia. The quantity of shark fins demanded, around 800,000 metric tonnes a year, has caused a sharp decline in shark numbers. Shark fin itself is tasteless, it just provides a gelatinous bulk for the soup which is flavoured with chicken or other stock. Many people, especially the consumers, are unaware of the sufferring that finning causes.

Today many shark populations are experiencing a downward spiral of reduced populations due to increasing fishing pressure and increasing prices. Over the last 15 years some Atlantic shark populations have declined by up to 80%. Most sharks grow slowly, mature late and give birth to a few large pups after a long gestation period. Consequently, shark populations decline rapidly when targeted by fisheries and recover slowly, if at all. Shark populations may continue to decline, potentially until the last individuals have been removed and species become regionally extinct. There are now 110 species of chondrichthyan fish listed in a threat category on the IUCN’s Red List, with a further 95 species listed as Near Threatened.

Why should we care?

Sharks are not blood thirsty, vicious killers. No more than 12 people a year are killed by sharks worldwide. In fact is more dangerous to play golf than to swim in the ocean with sharks. More golfers are struck by lightning and killed each year than the total number of shark fatalities. Many more humans are struck and killed by boats every year than are attacked by sharks.
Sharks are valued citizens of oceanic eco-systems. They are both predators and scavengers, and these roles they play contribute to eliminating diseased and genetically-defective animals and help to stabilize fish populations. We do not know enough about marine ecology to understand what the impact of this incredible onslaught of shark deaths will bring about.
Shark Finning is a wasteful and cruel practice contradicts all principles of sustainable shark fisheries management and conservation.

What can you do to help?

Sign a petition: there are many websites where you can do this and learn more about getting involved: www.sharktrust.org; www.stopsharkfinning.net; www.seashepherd.org/sharks;.
Vist the Animal Welfare Institute website (www.awionline.org) for a list of U.S. restaurants that serve shark fin soup. Talk to the manager and explain shark finning and see if you can convince them to remove it from the menu. If that fails, you can organize a peaceful protest at these establishments.
Make a donation to the organization of your choice, to help them make a difference.

Below is a very informative video clip from the movie “Sharks: Stewards of the Reef”.