The Perils of Sharks-Fin Soup by Marcus Chan
15 Dec
Firstly, sharks are one of the most misrepresented animals on the planet. There is a misconception that sharks are dangerous, are man-killers and hence, deserve to be finned and boiled into a soup. In actual fact, sharks are not the man-killers that people think they are. There are only a dozen species of sharks that actually attack humans and when they do, it’s usually because they mistake us for seals (think black wetsuits). There are 360 other identified shark species that don’t even attack humans. Scientists haven’t even fully categorised all shark species, but they all unanimously agree that they are one of the most perfect organisms who haven’t changed form since prehistoric times.
Fact: Each year there are about 50 to 70 confirmed shark attacks and 5 to 15 shark-attack fatalities around the world. The numbers have risen over the past several decades but not because sharks are more aggressive: Humans have simply taken to coastal waters in increasing numbers.
As many SCUBA divers would know, sharks are usually shy creatures who often swim away when they detect fear. Personally, I have only seen one shark during a dive and I consider that a lucky rarity. I used to fear sharks until I researched the facts and actually realised that they are majestic creatures.
Fact: While sharks kill fewer than 20 people a year, their own numbers suffer greatly at human hands. Between 20 and 100 million sharks die each year due to fishing activity, according to data from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. The organization estimates that some shark populations have plummeted 30 to 50 percent.
Not to sound preachy, but having sharks-fin soup served at a wedding or any banquet is not the way to go if you care about animals and our planet. People who say that they’ll have it just because it’s there – don’t realize that if the buying stops, so does the killing. If you don’t agree with wearing fur, sharks-fin soup should be on the list of things you should be up in arms with.
During shark culling activities, fishermen (or illegal poachers) extend miles of baited line and net to capture sharks (called longlining), but other marine animals are caught up in the process – turtles, dolphins included. Sharks are pulled up from the water, have their fin hacked off and then dumped back into the ocean, as the value of the rest of their meat is not high enough to justify keeping the rest of the shark.
There is also a myth that drinking sharks-fin soup is good for your health. In actual fact, sharks-fin has no nutritional value whatsoever and is actually harmful since they bleach and chlorinate the fin to alter the colour and to get rid of the smell. All the taste comes from the stock that is used to make the soup and not from the shark cartilage – which is tasteless.
Fact: Sharks are known as eating machines. But because many species are cold-blooded, some sharks eat only about 2 percent of their body weight each day. That’s a bit less than humans typically eat.
So, when planning your wedding, the risk of perhaps offending those who don’t know, leave out sharks-fin from your menu. There are many other fabulous soups available to choose from – be creative! Infact, wedding planners say there has been an increasing trend to replace sharks-fin soup with other popular ones.
There are templates of place-cards online that can be placed at your tables to let your guests know why you are not serving sharks-fin and where they can find more information.
And for more information here are some websites you can explore:
Wild Aid – http://www.wildaid.org
An organization that is dedicated to saving endangered species around the world. They are responsible for gathering the support of celebrities such as Jackie Chan and Yao Ming to spread the world that “When the buying stops, the killing can too.”
Shark Water – http://www.sharkwater.com/education.htm
This eye-opening documentary was made by one of the few shark crusaders, diver Rob Stewart. It is a beautiful documentary with stunning shots of him swimming with various types of sharks and even amongst a school of Hammerhead sharks. He is one of the few warriors out there and in the water making a stand against shark finning.
Please don’t ignore the facts. By not serving sharks-fin soup at your wedding and by educating your guests, you can make a huge difference.
i totally agree – sharksin soup sux!! i refuse to eat it at weddings… not even that great to eat leh
You’re right. It really is so cruel. My fiance is chinese but we’re thinking of scrapping the soup. Who cares what others think!
me too! i just tweeted it “say no to shark-fin”
Thank you so much for writing this article! Millions and millions of sharks are killed each year – and many are now becoming endangered – the world needs people like you and your mother to speak out. Thank you.
Duncan
http://www.stopsharkfinning.net
Hey guys – thank you so much for your comments and support. We should definitely change our ways and say NO to Sharks fin soup!!
Be the change!
Great article that exposes the truth. I am against animal cruelty and my sister who will be having her wedding this year agreed to excluse shark fin soup from the menu. It can be abit hard approaching friends/ relatives about this issue though especially when its about their big day.
I’m getting married in June and we are opting out our sharks fin soup as well.. i guess we don’t need to explain to friends and relatives the reason as many may just think that we are giving excuses for a cheaper menu.
They will eventually understand the real reason!
Hey all! Thanks for the comments so far, and please recommend this article to others who may have a wedding coming up to help open their eyes!
Chez and Sheri: please check out http://mnsmarine.tripod.com/wedding/index.htm and email Malaysian Nature Society for more creative ways to explain to your guests as to why you won’t be serving sharks fin soup. The website is actually quite creative and shows examples of sharks fin free weddings and you are also able to order the No Sharks Fin “Thank You” cards at cost from MNS.
Sheri – good move! One of my friends who is from HK (the homeland of Sharksfin soup) made a similar stand as well… even though they’re having the reception at The Peninsula (one of the best hotels in HK), she said no to SFS!
You just need to give the oldies time to get used to the idea :)
Yup… got converted after watching Sharkwater as well. Isn’t the cruelty but the pointlessness behind it.
100 million sharks a year to put into a soup that would taste just the same without it?
Most of us just eat it cos our parents tell us it’s “good stuff”. Swore off it three years ago and don’t miss a thing.