The tragedy is global and enormous: Sharks, Shark Fin Soup, China. At first glance it may not seems so large a tragedy but please, read the numbers.
At the least, 100,000,000 sharks are killed each year by fisherman.
And many scientists and oceanographers say that number is conservative. The actual number may be closer to 300,000,000. Easily, heartlessly, people are killing at least 11,000 sharks per hour.
Sharks are now endangered with extinction.
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To feed China’s appetite for shark fin soup.
The fin of the shark is the valuable part. After slicing the fins off a living shark it is thrown into the ocean unable to swim, sinking to death at the bottom of the ocean.
The fisherman easily earn $500 a pound for fins in this grisly, cruel, unsustainable practice. Depending on the species of shark that price can skyrocket into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Turns out the shark is not the most feared predator. The dishonor goes to the fisherman.
The fisherman, of course, would have no market for their despicable “catch” were it not for consumer demand in China.
Sharks, Shark Fin Soup, China
At one time shark fin soup was reserved for the Chinese emperor. Now, any consumer in China with the financial means can have this as often as they wish.
Can you and I do anything to save sharks while there are still shark to be saved.
Yes.
Contact your member of Congress. Laws should be passed which offer protection to sharks. As a voter, you have the right to have your voice heard in Congress. Do not just get angry, get involved.
Support organizations that advocate for shark conservation.
Use social media to alert other to this danger to the world’s sharks. Your participation on social media advocating for sharks and educating for sharks can have truly global reach.
Your voice, and the voices of those in your social media world, can easily travel to China. You can make an impact from the comfort of your own home.
Learn about sharks. There are many species of sharks swimming the world’s oceans. Not just the familiar great white shark demonized in the movie Jaws.
Shark finning is a tragedy of epic proportions. Human greed and human cruelty will continue until those of us who care join the fight to save the shark.
Sharks, Shark Fin Soup, China
