Sharkfinning Op-ed

If you know someone who refuses to go swimming at the beach, the odds are it’s because they’ve seen Jaws one too many times. Sharks are without a doubt one of the most feared animals in the world, and definitely not an animal that most people would want to bump into in the wild. Sharks have been the oceans top predator for millions of years, and are often characterized as ruthless killing machines and man-eaters. But the truth of the matter is that sharks only kill around ten people a year, with the reports on attacks often being over exaggerated (not to say that shark attacks aren’t serious).
Now, there is a predator that threatens shark’s the world over. That predator is us, humans. While ten people a year dying from shark attacks may still seem large enough to some people, it is nothing in comparison to the horrifying number of sharks that are brutally killed each year by humans.
Every year somewhere between 35 and 73 million (yes, million) sharks are killed, and for nothing more than their fins. The method of harvesting the fins is unbelievably cruel and inhumane: once the shark is hauled out of the water, the fisherman hack off all four of its fins, then, while it is still living, it is tossed back into the water where it either drowns or bleeds to death. What’s even worse is that there is no discrimination between endangered species or not, meaning that often times poachers won’t hesitate before finning on a marine reserve. Nor does it matter whether the shark is fully matured. This is a problem because, unlike most fish, sharks mature slowly (some taking up to 9 years), and rather than laying hundreds of eggs, sharks give birth to one or two pups a litter.
And what could possibly warrant this mass slaughter taking place in our oceans? Why, nothing more than a bowl of soup. You see, in China, Shark-fin soup is a traditional dish used in weddings, anniversaries, and other events like that; but it is also a status symbol. So of course, with the rise of China’s middle class, there comes a rise in demand for the soup, simply to show you can. On the Chinese markets, fins can go far over $100 per kilo. At that price, and so little opposition from the law, it’s no wonder so many fisherman have begun finning.
But there is still hope for shark populations, already it has been noted that the younger generation in China is far less interested in shark-fin soup, and many famous people from China (Jackie Chan and Ang Lee for example) have begun speaking out against finning. In addition to raising awareness in China, many countries have begun to seriously look at finning as a problem. Recently, right here in the US, legislation was passed banning fisherman from finning sharks at sea, as well as not allowing the fins to be removed if they weigh more than 5% the dressed (gutted, head removed) shark, meaning most sharks will be allowed to mature.
Although finning is still technically legal, this was a great step forward in regulating the number of sharks killed through finning. Personally, I don’t believe that finning could really be made illegal, because there’s such an established market for them. I do believe that we should take this regulation further, like requiring anyone wanting to fin sharks to have a permit, and have a quota of fins that could be collected by one vessel. Anyone caught with fins on board their ship would be faced with a fine greater than whatever profit could be made off of the fins. If the fine is not paid, those evading it would ideally face jail time, or have their boat taken from them. In my mind, this seems like an effective way of keeping shark populations from being decimated.