Banning Finning: The Practice Of Finning Sharks

Sydney Swiatkowski
Lamar Hill
English III Honors
21 May 2014
It is no secret that sharks have a bad reputation for being blood-thirsty man-killers. Sharks are known as the “killers of the sea.” Every year, on average, 10 people are killed by sharks; however, every second 3 sharks are slaughtered by humans. So who is the real “killer of the sea?” Sharks are victims to a cruel and inhumane practice known as finning. Finning is a practice that is more practiced in the pacific today but used to be practiced all around the world. Finning refers to when commercial fishermen will pull a shark onto the boat and slice off the fins. The typical target fins that are cut off the shark are the primary dorsal fin, secondary dorsal fin, the lower caudal fin, anal fin, pelvic fin, and the pectoral fins. The removal of these fins leaves the shark a slender, finless carcass. After cutting the fins off, the fisherman toss the still living shark back into the water to die a gruesome and painful death. The practice of finning sharks should be banned and enforced internationally.
The overfishing for shark fins has decimated certain species and endangered other species of sharks. Sharks have existed for thousands of years. Scientists have proved that ancestors of today’s shark species existed during the age of the dinosaurs. Sharks have resisted extinction for so long because of natural selection, but since the new delicacy of shark fin soup has become popular in mostly Asian countries they might not resist extinction for much longer. Sharks are extremely vulnerable creatures, despite their frightening amount of teeth. While it takes humans on average thirteen years to reach sexual maturity, it takes sharks up to 20 years and they produce very few offs...

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...nd Guam are considering it.
Shark fins have no taste. The fins are full of cartilage and are only used in the soup as a thickening agent. Chinese culture is primarily based upon tradition for most families and shark fin soup has been served for centuries by Chinese. It is usually served at special occasions such as weddings and ceremonies. It can cost up to $100 per bowl. For the most part, the limited number of wealthy Chinese meant that the practice was sustainable, but the rapid growth in the Chinese economy since 1985 is directly correlated with the recent sharp decrease in shark populations.
The shark may once have been the top predator in the oceans, but Nature and natural selection have decided that that title now belongs to humans. We kill and eat sharks (by enjoying shark fin soup) just as we consume huge quantities of other fish and animals. Get over it!