Karli Galione

Project 2 Draft 1
Professor Bradley
10/15/15December 5, 2015
Sharks are Friends, Not FoodShark Finning
Sharks are no longer at the top of the marine food chain. A smaller,
non-oceanic predator is killing and eating sharks faster than they can
reproduce. What animal is capable of this? Humans. Humans are known for
cutting the fins off of sharks for use in shark fin soup, mainly in the Asian
cultures. This inhumane practice is driving sharks to extinction and upsetting
the oceans ecosystems. Laws and other regulations are being put in place,
but the effects are not as successful as conservationists might hope. Many
marine biologists and shark conservationists have teamed up to discourage
shark finning around the world.
Every summer, Discovery Channel dedicates a week, called Shark
Week, to educate the public about sharks. These creatures are very
misunderstood by humanss bBecause of attacks on humans. Vic Peddemors,
a shark ecologist, explains in a Ted Talk that this is not the case. He defends
that, in Australia, one is more likely to drown than to be fatally attacked by a
shark. In 2011, there were only four fatal shark attacks, but 315 drownings.
35 of the drownings took place in the ocean, where the victims could have
been killed by a shark instead (Peddemors).

One marine biologist, Ryan Kempster, began the Support Our Sharks
Ocean Conservation Society, or SOS. This organization is working across the
globe to help protect sharks. He explains that one of the biggest threats to
these oceanic predators is shark finning. Finning is the inhumane act of
cutting the fins off of living sharks and throwing their mutilated bodies back
into the ocean (Sharks off the Menu 8). SOSs main goal is to educate the
public on this issue that could potentially damage the entire worlds
ecosystem. They also do their own research and publish news regarding
conservation efforts and anything relating to sharks. Their main genre of
communication is through digital means. This allows almost anyone to
stumble across the SOS website. Through this, they are able to reach
thousands, if not millions, of people that could make a difference in how
sharks are viewed. SOSs mission statement is To support healthy oceans by
promoting better protection for sharks and rays (Kempster).
The fins are the main part of sharks consumed by humans. Krista Mahr,
a TIME journalist, explains that tThe meat of this creature is not popular.
Sharks, fins and body, do not have much flavor. The meat itself has little
value and is not used in dishes very often. Fins are only consumed in shark
fin soup. Because of this, there is no reason for fishers to keep the entire
body of the shark on the boat. To prevent waste of space on boats, finless
sharks are thrown back into the ocean. It would be a waste of space to keep
what fishers will not get paid for (Mahr).

Mahr also explains that tThe main reason shark finning ever began was
for an Asian dish called shark fin soup. This soup is a traditional soup
traditionally served at high-class events, such as weddings and other
important events. It is currently sold in Asian restaurants worldwide,
although is not a very popular dish in America. It is made from chicken stock,
ham broth, and sometimes also contains shredded chicken. The fin itself has
virtually no flavor and is used purely for its texture. It is often cut into noodle
like strips, although it may be left whole for more high-end occasions. Mahr
explains that shark fin soup is seen the same as champagne is in the United
States, more as a sign of wealth than as a tasty treat.
Shark fin soup has been a traditional dish in Chinese culture dating
back to the Sung Dynasty in 960 AD according to Andrea Dellapa, a marine
research specialist (Dellapa 152). It is a way for the Chinese to show off their
wealth, generosity, and social class (153). At weddings, this soup is a
symbol of prosperity. It is considered rude if it is not served at an important
event. Families find it insulting if the grooms family does not serve it at a
wedding for all guests to indulge. In Chinese traditions, it was believed that if
one consumes wild, strong animals, it will give them strength (152). Not only
would eating shark make one stronger, according to the Chinese, it provided
health benefits. It was believed to encourage fertility, improve the liver,
kidneys, lungs, and increase bone strength (Kempster).
In ancient Hawaii, sharks were not commonly consumed. In fact,
Dellapa explains that sharks were seen as royalty to the Native Hawaiians

(153). When consumed, it was purely by males for them to gain power and
strength. Women could not eat shark because they were associated with
power, and women did not have power in this society. Only certain species of
sharks could be eaten to the few that were allowed to consume shark: the
hammerhead and the reef shark. All other species of sharks were considered
too sacred for humans to consume. Ancient Hawaiian shark consumption
laws were often punishable by death. Only rulers and men with a high status
were able to eat sharks other than the hammerhead and reef sharks. Sharks
are so important to the Native Hawaiians that when the Hawaii State
Department of Land and Natural Resources tried to move sharks from tourist
destinations, the Hawaiians fought back saying it was killing our ancestors
(154).
Finning is currently driving sharks to extinction. Shark In a TEDx talk,
shark conservationist Bertha Lo explains that the actual amount of sharks
being killed each year is unknown. It is estimated that between 23 and 76
million of these creaturessharks are killed per year solely for their fins.
Crystal Green, a law student at Pace University, explains that tThis number
equals one in every fifteen sharks (Green). Lo also states that if shark
consumption continues at its current rate, almost all sharks will be extinct by
the year 2021. Rima Jabado, a marine biologist, says that at least seventyfour species of sharks are classified as threatened. The sawfish is the most
threatened shark species. Angel sharks, wedgefishes, guitarfishes, and
thresher shark are other extremely endangered species.

China is the largest importer of shark fins. Lo clarifies that Hong Kong
received over 10,300 tons of shark fins from eighty-three countries in 2011
alone. That is only equivalent to half of the annual shark finning economy. Lo
works in Hong Kong where she performs speeches and meets with important
government officials to try to reduce this number.
Many people assume that sharks reproduce quickly. This is not the
case. Krista Mahr reports that great white sharks do not reach sexual
maturity until they are twelve to fifteen years old . That is the length it takes
most humans to reach sexual maturity (Mahr). Green reportsOverall,
different species of sharks can take between seven and twenty years before
they can reproduce (Green). Once reaching sexual maturity, the gestation
period is between one and two years. Not only is the gestation period longer
than that of a human, they produce just as many babies per pregnancy as
humans do (Green). These predators-turned-prey cannot repopulate as
quickly as they are being hunted. Jennifer Schmidt, a professor and
researcher at University of Illinois, reports that many shark species have
been on a sharp population decline within the last fifteen years. Great whites
have had a seventy nine percent decrease, threshers have decreased by
eighty percent, and scalloped hammerheads have decreased by eighty nine
percent (Schmidt). This drop is within only two decades.
Sharks are the keystone of many ocean ecosystems; without them, the
ocean would fall apart. Vic Peddemors explains that sharks are needed to
have a healthy, diverse ecosystem. If sharks are not present, there will be

too many fish in one area. They will proceed to eat all of the smaller fish and
crustaceans present and leave the area because there is no systematic
regulation. If there are no fish in an area, there will be no birds that live off of
marine life. They will either eat excess rodents or leave the area altogether.
One little upset in an ecosystem can produce more damage than previously
thought.
Not only is shark finning detrimental to the oceans ecosystems, shark
fins are dangerous to humans. An article by Yu Bon Man, a researcher at the
Hong Kong Institute of Education, explains that iIn the Ming Dynasty, shark
was believed to be good for rejuvenation, appetite enhancement, nourishing
to blood, beneficial to vital energy, kidneys, lungs and bones. More recently,
this has been proven false. Shark contains extremely high counts of
mercury. Each country has a maximum mercury level a fish may contain
before it is unsafe and cannot be sold in the market. In Australia, the
maximum level is 1,000 g/kg and three species of dog sharks contained
a mean mercury concentration of 7,200, 4,300 and 1,190 g/kg These
numbers are nowhere near the appropriate maximum level. In addition, fish
contain a special kind of mercury, called methyl mercury (MeHg). MeHg is
more dangerous than plain mercury because the brain absorbs it quicker due
to the chemicals atomic makeup. Mercury leads to many health conditions,
including memory loss, concentration disorders, developmental problems
with fine-motor skills, visual-spatial learning disabilities, and other cognitive
deficiencies (Man).

Finning is important for those in Asian countries because fin soup plays
an important role in their culture. This dish has been around since the Ming
Dynasty in the 1300s. Although it is mainly in China, many surrounding
countries also consume shark fin because many Asian cultures have
similarities. In California, when the law banning the consumption of shark fin
soup began in 2013, the people of Chinatown were outraged (Green). They
found it to be discriminating. The Chinese Americans claimed that the United
States was trying to eliminate their culture.
There will always be people that disobey laws put in place. The black
market is very much a real thing. Although she disagrees with finning, Green
realizes that iIf shark finning becomes illegal globally, many people will loose
their jobs. Restaurants may not go out of business, but they will suffer
economically. Shark fin soup can cost up to $100 a bowl. If a family goes out
to an engagement dinner to celebrate the couple, they can spend thousands
of dollars on the soup alone. Shark fin soup could possibly keep many
restaurants in business. If out of business, many more working citizens may
loose their jobs on top of those that have already been lost due to the
prevention of finning (Green).
Because of the upset that the possible extinction of sharks is causing,
many nations are joining together to ban the process of shark finning. There
is no official international law that all nations have agreed upon; however,
there is progress being made. The Conventional on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been working with

around 180 nations, beginning with the United States in 1974, to protect
endangered species of the world. There are many different levels to which
animals are protected. This all depends on the level at which the species is
threatened. Unfortunately, not all nations have agreed to honor CITES,
meaning not all nations must follow their laws. Also, exceptions can always
be made. Nations can obtain permits that allow them to continue hunting the
desired animal. Each nation may manipulate the regulation guide that CITES
recommends, and it is not mandatory to follow. CITES is working to protect
sharks, but has not fully achieved its purpose (Green).
The United States has done quite a bit of work through laws and other
regulations to discourage shark finning. In fact, it was made illegal to shark
fin in US waters in 2000 when Bill Clinton ratified the Shark Finning
Prohibition Act of 2000. This act included the act of shark finning on any US
boat, even outside of the nations waters. No unattached shark fin, including
the tail, may be on a US boat. However, the entire shark may be brought on
board and its fins may be removed once on US soil. These fish must be
recorded before the fins are removed. It is not illegal for shark fins to be
consumed or imported for the nation as a whole. This is soon to change.
Thus far, nine states have made laws against the use of shark fins for
consumption or any other use. These states include Hawaii, Washington,
Oregon, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Virginia, New
Jersey, and Maryland (Green).

The passing of the extra protection laws caused a case to be brought

to courtwere a huge deal in California, as Chinatown, San Francisco, was a
large shark consumer. They argued that it was discrimination toward their
race, but California disagreed. Because shark fin soup is such a big deal in
the Chinese culture, the Chinese Americans fought against the illegalities of
shark fin consumption. They argued that it was discrimination toward their
race, but California disagreed. Although this was a very controversial
decision, it is possibly saving millions of sharks each year. Many other states
are working to follow the fewnine states banning shark fins (Green).
The European Union and Central America have both put laws into place
banning the practice of shark finning (Sharks off the Menu 8). Europe began
with banning finning in the European Union in 2003, but this law has
expanded more recently to include cutting the fins off (Green). It is now
illegal to cut the fins off sharks at sea on any European Union flagged boat.
At first, exceptions were made that allowed fins to be cut off if the rest of the
shark parts were used efficiently (Green). This exception had to be changed,
as many were cheating the system (Green). In Central America, shark finning
is prohibited in their waters and on Central American boats. They, like
American ships, may bring the entire shark to land and cut off its fins
(Sharks 8).
In China, there are currently no laws outlawing the practice of shark
finning. However, due to the laws in place in other countries, shark
consumption and imports have decreased dramatically. The article Sharks

off the Menu shows that, Shark fin imports to Hong Kong dropped seventy
percent between 2011 and 2012 (9). Crystal Green states that Hong Kong
imported 3,087 tons of shark fins in 2012 compared to 10,292 in 2011 (718).
Unfortunately, the exact number of shark fin imports is unknown, as it is not
required for China to record the exact number of imports each year. In all of
China, imports decreased in half in 2011 alone (718). China will also no
longer be serving shark fin soup at official banquets (Sharks 9). This is a
vital step toward the protection of sharks. There is still much more progress
to be made, however. Green reports that only twenty-one Chinese restaurant
owners out of the fifty-two surveyed were aware that sharks are endangered
due to the soup they were serving (721).
In Australia, there are areas, called no go areas, where water vessels
may not enter that have become increasingly popular. Schmidt explains that
these areas contained similar numbers of sharks to islands in the Indian
Ocean where there is virtually no fishing. Australia also has areas, called no
take zones where fishing is not allowed. Boats may enter, unlike the no go
zones, but strict rules are enforced. In the no take areas, there are
significantly less sharks than in no go areas. This is mainly due to the fact
that illegal fishing still happens. If laws were enforced, there would not be
ninety seven percent less sharks in no take areas than no go zones
(Schmidt). Australia may have banned shark finning in their waters, but
sharks are not yet safe due to a lack of enforcement.

Shang- Yin Vanson Liu, a researcher at the Biodiversity Research

Center in Taiwan, states aA less commonly known way to protect sharks: is
to regulate which sharks are being caught. Taiwan was one of the first
countries in Asia to place restrictions on shark finning. This nation has
become an advocate for all Asian nations to at least slow down on killing the
sharks. They require that all sharks must be brought to land before the fins
may be cut off. Through doing this, the species of each shark must be
recorded. Once recorded, nations may see which sharks are being caught
most often. Because of this, they may regulate which species of sharks may
be finned (Liu).
Bob Niles, a reporter from the Richmond Review proposes sSharks can
be farmed. The economic impact that would be made if companies banded
together to form shark farms like they do with chicken and cattle would may
keep companies in business and even create new jobs. If finning wild sharks
is banned worldwide, many people will be out of jobs. Creating a system of
farming sharks could put many of these people back in business. Restaurants
would be able to sell shark fin soup again. The worlds economy could boom
yet again. This would also help encourage the growth of sharks. The only
problem with this may be the rate at which sharks mature sexually and their
gestation period. Because both of these take an extremely long time, shark
finning will not be quite as prevalent as it currently is. This could save sharks.
It will encourage the growth of wild sharks, and encourage growth of farmraised sharks (Niles).

Most news about shark finning is done through online newspapers and
other online organizations. In these genres, ethos is the most important,
because these sources must be credible. Logos is also extremely important,
as facts are necessary to get the point across. If a marine biologist said that
lots of sharks are being killed for their fins each year, it is not very effective.
When a number is put on these sharks being killed, it is now put in the
correct light and becomes much more effective. While the numbers may be a
fact, the SOS website discretely uses pathos behind their logos. Speeches
and debates are also used to advocate sharks. They contain all the same
logos, pathos, and ethos as online organizations.
Shark finning is a huge issue for sharks worldwide. It is driving these
once top predators to extinction. Nations have begun working to ban the
inhumane practice of cutting the fins off live sharks, but these regulations
have not been as effective as intended. This is the mission of marine
biologists and shark conservationists worldwide. They work to educate those
around the world about the dangers of ruining the oceans ecosystem for an
Asian dish. Sharks are important and continue to make the food chain remain
the way it is. However, humans of the Asian cultures disagree. It is a matter
of biologists vs. culture, not man vs. shark.

Works Cited
Dell'apa, Andrea, M. Chad Smith, and Mahealani Y. Kaneshiro-pineiro. "The
Influence
of Culture on the International Management of Shark Finning."
Environmental management 54.2 (2014): 151-61. Print.
Green, Crystal. "An International Sos (Save our Sharks): How the
International Legal
Framework should be used to Save our Sharks." Pace International Law
Review 27.2(2015): 701-28. Print.
Jabado, Rima W. Gulf Elasmo Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
Lo, Bertha. "Sharks Fin - What's All the Fuss About?" TEDx Talk. Wan Chai. 21
Sept.

2012. YouTube. Web.

Liu, Shang-Yin Vanson, et al. "DNA Barcoding of Shark Meats Identify Species
Composition and CITES-Listed Species from the Markets in
Taiwan." PLoS
ONE 8.11 (2013): 1-8. Print.
Mahr, Krista. "Killer Cuisine." Time International (Atlantic Edition) 176.15
(2010):
40-. Print.
Man, Yu Bon, Sheng Chun Wu, and Ming Hung Wong. "Shark Fin, a Symbol of
Wealth
and Good Fortune may Pose Health Risks: The Case of
Mercury." Environmental Geochemistry and Health 36.6 (2014): 101527.
Web.
Peddemors, Vic. Sharks or Humans Who Should be Afraid? TEDx Talk.
Canberra.
3 Oct. 2012. YouTube. Web.
Niles, Bob. "Shark Fin Solution: Farm-raised Sharks." Richmond News. N.p.,
14
Dec. 2012. Web.
Schmidt, Jennifer V. "Sharks in Decline." Shark Research Institute. N.p., 24
Aug. 2011.
Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

"Sharks Off the Menu." Earth Island Journal 28.3 (2013): 8-9. Print.
Support Our Sharks. Ryan Kempster, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2015.