Will demand for shark fin soup vanish faster than sharks?

Sarah Valenti 2008/Marine Photobank

Shark populations across the world are severely threatened by overfishing, driven mainly by the demand for shark fin soup. Shark fin soup is considered a status symbol in Chinese culture, and is priced accordingly. The high price elicits a lucrative industry for shark fins, whereas the meat of the shark itself holds little value. This has led fishermen in parts of the world to cut off the fins of sharks and dispose of bodies back into the water in order to save space on the boat. Due to developments in technology, humans manage to remove between 26 and 73 million sharks per year, mostly for this industry. Sharks are an apex predator in the ocean and we do not fully understand the effects of fishing them at unsustainable levels can have on the marine environment. Many shark populations are at less than 10% of their pre-fishing levels.

Support for shark conservation has recently been on the rise. Since 2009, six countries have established shark sanctuaries, totaling over 4.7 million square kilometers, where shark fishing is strictly prohibited. Recently, in the United States, California joined Washington, Oregon, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam in a ban of the possession, sale, or trade of shark fins. Florida became the first state in the U.S. to protect three types of hammerhead sharks, as well as tiger sharks from being harvested. The European Union is currently in the process of reviewing their shark fin laws to prevent the practice of shark finning from occurring.

Pete Faulkner/Marine Photobank

Another important recent development for sharks came out of Hong Kong on Tuesday November 22. Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels announced that, effective 2012, shark fin soup will no longer be served at any of the company’s establishments. Hotel group CEO Clement K.M. Kwok stated, “As Asia's oldest hotel company, we also hope that our decision will inspire other hospitality companies to do the same and that our industry will play a role in helping to preserve the bio-diversity of our oceans.” This announcement validates some claims that support for the protection of sharks has been gaining support in Hong Kong, which facilitates an estimated 80% of the shark fin trade. Yao Ming, the Chinese NBA star, has been a major advocate against shark finning and his campaign has been well received in China. Richard Branson, of UK-based travel, entertainment and lifestyle conglomerate Virgin Group, joined Ming at an event in Shanghai urging influential Chinese businessmen to stop serving, eating, or aiding in transport or sale of shark fins. A recent article by Justin McCurry, of The Guardian, states, “Several hotels offer discounts, cheaper room rates and other incentives for couples that choose not to serve shark fin at their wedding celebrations.”

Read the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels shark fin ban announcement>>

Read Time.com’s report on the shark conservation challenge >>

Watch SeaWeb's video on shark finning >>

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