Shark Finning

Shark finning is the practice of slicing off the shark's fins while the shark is still alive and throwing the rest of its body back into the ocean. Sharks thrown in shallow water will fall to the ocean floor die from either bleeding to death or drowning. If the shark is thrown back in deep water they can actually implode due to rapid changes in pressure within the shark’s limp body. They can also die by starving to death, being eaten by other fish. Shark fins are used to make a soup that is considered an Asian "delicacy". The reasons that sharks should be admired and not hunted are almost endless. Despite creating easy income for third world nation’s, shark finnig is a barbaric practice that needs to end Sharks are some of the most ancient species that have ever existed on the Earth, dating back over 400 million years; well before the time of the dinosaurs. There are around 500 distinct varieties of sharks and due to shark finning, some shark populations have decreased by approximately 90% . The diversity in sharks ranges from the breathtaking to the mundane to the downright eerie. Previously thought to be strictly saltwater animals, some species are also known to live in freshwater . Sharks are extra sensory animals and can detect the slightest changes in their environment. They can hear sounds inaudible to humans for over a mile, and can sense the smallest pressure changes around their bodies; both are key in a sharks hunting ability Sharks are the apex predators of the ocean, meaning they regulate the marine food web. The ocean (there is only one, not 7) covers between 70 – 75% of the earth’s surface and houses 80 – 90% of all life on earth, yet sharks role in maintaining the ocean is often overlooked. The main reas...

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...r $100 a bowl, and is a traditional wedding meal that shows the brides family how affluent the grooms family is. A common tradition attached to shark fin soup is that “longer noodles mean a longer life” . High demand for shark fins has driven the price to around $300 per pound!! Once exclusive to China, shark fin soup is now becoming a popular dish around the world. Aside from the moral implications, there is another reason to shy away from shark fin soup; “it may be detrimental to neurologic health” . Tested fins were found to contain the toxin BMAA, that when ingested increases the risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gering’s disease), Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease . International law for the conservation and management of sharks is fragmented and piecemeal . However conservationists are making progress towards ending this destructive practice.