Learn More: Shark Finning
Shark fin soup was once an Asian delicacy reserved for the wealthy but with a growing middle class, shark fin soup is now becoming common fare at weddings, banquets and business meetings. A bowl can cost up to US $100, making the fins easily the most lucrative part of the shark.
Since shark meat is inferior to other fish and the bodies are bulky and take up precious cargo space, sharks are finned around the world. During the finning process, a shark is hauled up on deck and its fins are sliced off. The shark — sometimes still alive — is thrown back into the water to bleed to death. This brutal practice is also incredibly wasteful; shark finning only utilizes one to five percent of the shark’s body weight, removing an essential food source from many communities.
In addition, without the fins attached, many sharks can’t be identified, which further impedes control. Estimates suggest that between 26 and 73 million sharks are finned each year, all for a tasteless product that translates to “fish wing” and adds nothing more than structure to a broth.
