Finished with Fins

Since Ming Dynasty, shark fin soup has been served on the table as one delicacy. At that time, only the Emperor and nobility have the power to taste on it. Until nearly 20 years, shark fin soup became a common dish which can be found on Chinese cuisine.

Just count on Republic of China, there is roughly 1.3 billion Chinese are live in prosperity and successfulness which made shark fin soup has become popular. It was appeared at mostly business dinners, birthday party, banquets, and weddings. With that, huge amount of sharks are being killed for this soup. The fins from between 26 million and 73 million are estimated to be killed each year (Katie Hunt, July 3, 2012) and move through the Hong Kong shark fin markets alone.

It is worth mentioning that sharks are caught for the valuable fins but not their meat. The price of shark fins can easily cost hundreds of dollars at most. Shark meat, in contrast considered as invaluable which less people consume on it. In the 20 years time, population of sharks already reduced by almost 90% or more. (sharksavers.inc, 2013). The problem will continue or even made worse due to the reproduction of sharks is extremely slow. Sharks are just able to reproduce few young after take years accordingly to reach sexual maturity.

From the year 1996 to 2000, shark fin imports grew 6% per year (Clarke 2004a). Sharks have survived for 450 million years (Yenifer Canelon, Feb 11, 2013) and yet we are on course for killing them off within a few years. The excessive demand of shark fin will lead to the unbalance of ocean ecosystem that human kinds adore.

Measurement have been taken which ‘The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA)' was passed by the 111th United States Congress to improve the conservation of sharks, the bill was approved by the House of Representatives on March 2, 2009 by voice vote and the Senate on December 20, 2010 by unanimous consent.. The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on