Illegal Shark Finning
By kristikiser
@kristikiser (50)
United States
June 24, 2008 7:28pm CST
If you are concerned with global warming, you need to be concerned with this:Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often STILL ALIVE when it is tossed back in the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish. In simple terms, "fishermen" catch the sharks, slice off all their fins and then throw the writhing, bloodied and defenseless shark back into the water to drown or be eaten alive!Shark specialists estimate that 100 MILLION sharks are killed for their fins ANNUALLY.
This is a huge problem for all life on earth, without sharks at the top of the food chain, the ecosystem will collapse and be out of control.
70% of our oxygen comes from the ocean, but if sharks are wiped out and the ecosystem suffers, we lose our air (and MUCH more).
For more information and to see how you can help please visit:
http://www.sharkwater.com
http://www.seashepherd.org/longline/
What do you think? Is this just another crappy "save the planet" hoax? Is there something you think we should be doing? Are you concerned at all?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@duranv (516)
• Honduras
25 Jun 08
It is sad, as for this being a hoax I am sure it isn't, shark fins are very sought after and people pay a lot of money for them, what I am not sure of is the 100 million sharks killed, I think that figure is inflated, sharks would be extint by now. And another thing people do eat shark, I have tasted it and didn't like it much but some people do, so if you just cut off the fins and throw the shark back you are also throwing away food, which makes it an even greater crime.
2 people like this
@Valenas (1507)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Well, of course it is a bit of an estimate, but if you saw the fins just lined up and spread out all over, you would see that it might not be as inflated as you think it is. I am sure that they are doing their best to estimate, using a similar system that researchers use when they try to figure out the amount of a species in a certain area. You cannot be accurate about everything, but I doubt that they are massively inflating the figure.
@kristikiser (50)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Thank you Duranv for your comments and insight, as for the figure of 100 million sharks killed each year, I directly quoted that from www.sharkwater.com and I trust their facts. It is an "estimate" though, made by professionals as you'll notice and there really is not a way to get an exact number with how large the oceans are. Thank you for your response =)
1 person likes this
@YOULANLIU (311)
• China
25 Jun 08
Yes, I have seen that bloody scene from TV programm.In many foreigners's minds,chinese are the major consumers of the shark fin.In chinese traditional views,shark fin is a kind of food can nourishing bodies.In ancient times,shark fin is only given access to the emperor,now it is the rich people's patent.I had tried shark fin soup many years before,it has no special flavor.So for most common chinese people,shark fin is a kind of expensive and not tasty food and only a small part of rich men are the consumers of shark fin.Too much wealth can make people have a growing desire,this is all right.
2 people like this
@kristikiser (50)
• United States
25 Jun 08
I appreciate this insight. A single pound of shark fin can be sold for $300! I am not sure what you mean by "this is all right". Personally, I do not think that it is alright at all. Not just because the wealthy have a right to buy expensive things, but because they are knowingly destroying our ecosystem and endangering these creatures to the point of extinction. Same idea as puppy mills, dolphin slaughtering and every other disgusting and pointless practice out there.
1 person likes this
@apdriftx10 (13)
• United States
25 Jun 08
gee poor sharks i dont no why humans can just do that well i cant talk cause im a meat eater but when i see animals get killed abuse whipe or anything else i feel so sad but i guess i get it from my mom we got this dog or she got the dog at some dog shelter lol srry dont no the name but the owner befor was so mean an abuse of by the way i dont no what type it is i want to ask my mom but keep forgeting this is not the video of my dog but i have the same type of dog in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_iKyJqV7sM
an ita a boy about 7 months old i had it for 2 months
@kristikiser (50)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Being a meat eater is all well and good (I am too), it's knowing where your meat came from and if it's being illegally and/or inhumanely slaughtered. I went to a new restraunt the other night and they were selling Mako Shark for a special, I almost walked out (I should have, but hindsight is 20/20), I brought it up with the manager and told her to stop selling it. Thank you for the response. Cute dog by the way, I love Welsh Corgis'.
1 person likes this
