Around the world, sharks are exploited for their fins to make shark fin soup and other shark products. Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water (Sharkwaters, 2006). Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom of the ocean, where it is eaten alive by other fish. Shark meat is considered low in value and therefore not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to market. Any shark is taken-regardless of age, size, or species. Finned sharks have a 100% mortality rate while those caught and released have a slightly lower mortality rate as a result of stress (Musyl, Brill, Curran, Fragos, 2011, pg. 341–368). Due to the high value of fins in the Asian market, this practice is globally widespread (Worm, Davis, Kettemer, Ward-Paige, Chapman, Heithaus, Kessel, Gruber, 2013, pg. 194). The dish is expensive and used to signify status because those who can afford it are considered elite class. Many people consume shark fin soup to prove they are of the upper-class, this concept creates a social divide between the poor and the rich. Bans implemented over the last six decades have failed to reduce the global catch of shark finning (Worm et al, 2013, pg. 194). Data from the Sea Around Us shows the global shark catch has more than doubled to 1.4 million tonnes in last six decades (Wild Aid, 2018). It is estimated that 100 million sharks are still killed for their fins each year, and a pound of dried shark fin can retail for $300 or more (Sharkwaters, 2006), making it a multi-billion, perhaps multi-trillion-dollar industry. The desire for status causes the exploitation of sharks.
Sharks are apex predators and without them larger rays and skates, and other shark prey increase in population and when sharks disappear, it puts the ecosystem out of balance and leads to the loss of other key marine species. There are over one billion peoplewho rely on seafood as their primary source of protein (Good, 2014) because they live in coastal regions, with limited alternate sources of protein (Tech Insider, 2018) and scientists are finding that as sharks are finned and disappearing so are the fish that these people rely on. It would seem that a decrease in sharks would increase fish populations, but it is the opposite and many will go hungry if the marine ecosystem is unbalanced. Without any consideration of the impact on ocean life and eventually human life, shark populations will continue to decline rapidly as people fail to recognize the importance sharks beyond the fin trade.
By: Sarika Ganguli
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