Causes Of The Decline Of Shark Finning

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Shark fin soup has had a rapid decrease of twenty-fine percent in the past decade. My article that chose describes how and the potential causes of the decline in demand. The trade in shark fins, a symbol of wealth in China and other parts of Asia, has led to the decline in some shark populations by up to ninety- eight percent in the last fifteen years. An estimated one hundred million sharks are killed each year with up to seventy- three million used for their fins. Shark finning is still very prominent in Asia, unfortunately. What is shark finning you may ask? Finning is the process of cutting off the fins of a shark and discarding the body at sea. This wasteful and often cruel practice contradicts all principles of sustainable shark fisheries management and conservation. …show more content…
This will end up affecting the supply and demand of these shark fins. So, why does shark finning occur? While fins are very valuable, shark meat has limited commercial value, providing a strong incentive for shark finning (demand). The major source of demand for shark fins is the market for shark fin soup. In some Asian cultures this is a prestigious commodity, and a tradition to honor special guests or occasions. Once processed, fibers from fins are used to give the soup a glutinous consistency. The fins are tasteless, so pork or chicken is used for flavor. In the last decade, increased average wealth in the Far East and efficient modern fishing methods have resulted in a massive increase in demand for and supply of fins. However, very recently the demand has gone down due to the protection of the species and awareness of the damage being caused along with health factors. Some studies have shown shark fins to be unhealthy or “passé”. Sharks and shark fins are naturally occurring good on the earth which means they are a
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