Hey, guys today I will be sharing what we have been doing in social studies. We are currently learning about shark finning and how it is bad for the ocean’s ecosystem. We had to research what exactly shark finning is, why is it a delicacy and how is it impacting the ocean. It’s disappointing to see what impact humans have on our oceans. Here is my answer to each question.
Shark Finning
What is Shark Finning?
Shark finning is the horrifying act of cutting a shark fin and then disposing of the rest back in the ocean. This causes sharks to die slowly and in pain while also sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Countries use shark fins to make shark-fin soup. For instance, predominantly China and Hong Kong eat shark fish. Shark fish soup is known as a delicacy and is only for the aristocracy. The act of shark fishing is strictly held in Asia.
Why is Shark Fins a delicacy?
The dish shark-fin soup is known as a delicacy because during the Song Dynasty of 960 to 1279 eating one of the most fearsome creatures in the ocean represented power and wealth to whoever ate it. The dish is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. Shark-fin soup was consumed by the Chinese aristocracy and played a huge role in understanding individuals’ social standards. The fibres take on a consistency similar to noodles but they have no nutritional value or taste. The dish is popular in Chinese medicine and important events like weddings, birthdays, business banquets and during Chinese New Year celebrations. More individuals eating and consuming shark fin soup are pushing many shark species to the brink of extinction.
How is this impacting our oceans?
Shark fins are one of the most crucial parts of the ocean’s ecosystem. With the population decreasing of shark fins it is predicted that removing them from the ecosystem will cause the whole structure to collapse. They are an essential aspect of our ocean’s environment and the food chain without sharks means that other marine populations in the ocean will also decline substantially, or cease to exist altogether. Around the world, sharks kill 10 humans but humans kill over 100,000,000 sharks per year. The biggest threat for sharks is commercial fishing.
References:
Carwardine, M. (n.d.). What is shark finning and why is it a problem? Discover Wildlife. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/fish/what-is-shark-finning-and-why-is-it-a-problem/