Planet over Profit

Sharks are, perhaps, among the most misunderstood creatures in the oceans. Of course, it is true that sharks are indeed fierce predators, which have evolved incredible abilities for locating and attacking their prey, and most people have seen footage of Great Whites attacking seals in spectacular displays of carnage. Most people are also aware that sharks are capable of occasionally attacking and killing people – a strong popularized fear that has been fueled by movies like Jaws and, more recently, by the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. However, one can argue that most people have the facts wrong. The reality is that shark attacks occur extremely infrequently, considering the numbers of beach-goers worldwide. Furthermore, sharks have roamed this earth for millions of years and serve a very important function in oceanic ecosystems. They are more worthy of amazement that they are of condemnation.

Today, sharks are in desperate trouble as shark populations continue to decline dramatically in oceans all over the world. Of course, you do not often hear about this because the popularized fear of sharks makes their demise less news worthy than reporting on the demise of more lovable and cuddly creatures, such as whales and panda bears. This makes the plight of sharks particularly concerning and the solutions to the problem even harder to find.

Sharks are ruthlessly fished typically not for their meat, but rather for the use of their fins. Shark Finning is a global industry fueled mainly by high demand in Asia for shark fin soup. While in Bangkok, we toured China Town where one of the most prominent features of the area was the sale of shark fins and shark fin soup. Buildings were covered with pictures of shark fins and many restaurants advertised their sale more prominently than any other menu item. The sale and consumption of shark fins is arguably one of the most atrocious uses of a marine animal that currently exists. The fishing of sharks for their fins involves catching the shark with a hook or net and then removing all of its fins on the deck of the harvest vessel while the animal is usually still alive. Once all of the fins are removed, the shark is then tossed overboard sinking helplessly to the bottom of the ocean where it eventually suffocates and dies.

The shark fins we saw in Bangkok sold for 19,000 Baht (approximately US$575) for 3 dorsal fins (i.e. from 3 different sharks), meaning a shark’s life is worth a ridiculously low US$191 on the market. A negative public perception coupled with the existence of a steady demand for their fins, the future for many shark species is looking bleak.

One can speculate that such treatment of sharks is tolerated in part because of the popularized public fear of them when, in reality, sharks are not human hunters, but rather the hunted. You can do your part in preventing the extinction of these creatures by helping to curb their market demand. Please ensure that you do not purchase any products that contain shark meat or cartilage. If you are interested in a more detailed story about the plight of sharks, check out the multiple-award-winning movie Sharkwater.