Shark Finningfaculty.sdmiramar.edu/faculty/sdccd/alowe... · 2015-12-14 · Shark finning Shark...
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RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com Abstract Shark finning is the cutting off of the shark's fins and throwing the finless shark's body back into the ocean. Most of the time the shark would still be alive and would sink helplessly down to the bottom of the ocean while dying from suffocation or eaten by other predators due to its inability to swim. In China and most Asian countries they determine social status and wealth when they serve shark fin soup at weddings, dinner parties, etc. It is essential to have the soup served at weddings whether you are rich or not. Fisherman hunt sharks and their fins due to the price of this soup which is $100 a plate (Caty Fairclough). Sharks have been known to be killing machines because of the media's illustration of them all around the world. The truth is sharks are the least deadliest animal based on human death's per year. The misconception people have about sharks might affect their ability to sympathize with them, but in this case this is more about sympathizing with these creatures that some people don't care much for in the world, this is about the inhumanity in these killings. Not only is inhumane but it is messing the natural order of the ocean's food chain, the shark is the ocean's top predator and when thrown back into the ocean defenseless and paralyzed it becomes the prey. Shark finning is indiscriminate slaughter and is setting these creatures up to be extinct. Shark Finning by Nora Helmy Countries where shark fin soup is consumed Shark finning is something that is done all over the world. Sharks are being finned in oceans around the world for the lucrative rewards of selling the fins alone. Asian countries account for much of the buyers of shark fins. The reason has a lot to do with their culture and beliefs. They usually concoct a traditional, arguably beneficial soup with the shark fins as the main ingredient. “Shark fins are the most valuable part of the shark, because they are used as the key ingredient and namesake in an Asian delicacy known as “shark fin soup” (Green, 2015). Shark fin soup is associated with being wealthy and part of the high-class society. People those societies ate shark fin soup. The soup and fins are made into a broth and eaten. The main reason the shark fin is added is to provide texture. It does not really have any flavor. “Ironically, the shark fin itself has little taste and the soup has to be flavored with other ingredients, such as chicken stock. The shark fin is mainly used to provide texture to the soup” (Green, 2015). Also, Chinese traditional medicine is very popular in China. According to their views, Chinese medicine claims to boast many benefits to the body, kidneys, and sexual reproductive systems. “Although shark fin soup is generally regarded as a status symbol for the wealthy, proponents cite health benefits from shark fins, claiming it is good for bones, kidneys and lungs and helps treat cancer” (Green, 2015). People who believe in Chinese traditional medicine consume this delicacy for the many benefits that arise from the shark fins. Shark fin soup is very expensive. Depending on the size, age and type of shark fin, the soups can go anywhere from twenty five to one thousand dollars a bowl. Now, that is a lot of money and profit. So, fishermen always have an incentive to go out and fish for sharks. It is worth the risks. If they come back with a full boat of shark fins, it will be more profitable of having any other fish onboard. Shark finning Shark finning is a torturous process that involves sharks being fished out of the water and then their fins are immediately sliced off. Even more horrible, the sharks are then thrown back into the water finless, left to die. “Shark finning is the process of catching and removing the fins of sharks at sea; and the remainder of the shark’s body is thrown back into the ocean. Often times, the shark is still alive when its body is discarded into the ocean. Without their fins, the shark is unable to swim. As a result, the sharks drown and die by suffocation” (Green, 2015). When thrown back into the water the shark is still alive most times. The predator becomes the prey. The shark can no longer feed or defend itself. This results in dying of suffocation or they end up being food to other prey. The fins are then sold, mostly to China. This is because of the reasons mentioned earlier. “Hong Kong is the largest shark fin trading center and shares about 59 % of the global trade, resulting in the fatality of 26 to 73 million shark fins with an overall median of 38 million of shark fins every year, pushing some species to the brink of extinction” (Man, Vu, Wong, 2014). Effects of shark finning It is clear to see that fishing this many sharks is going to cause some negative consequences. Overfishing the top predator of the ocean is definitely going to alter the ecosystem. When sharks are left defenseless in the water with their fins dissected from their bodies, they therefore turn into prey rather than predators. The fish that the sharks eat are reproducing and outnumbering the sharks, which in turns messes with the fish that they eat. The changes occur all the way down the food chain. Certain species of fish can be extinct from the over existence and abundance of their predators, resulting in wipe out of the entire species. The overfishing of the sharks has caused a decline in the number of sharks in the ocean. The ocean is not a resource containing unlimited sharks and fish. So, the effects are definitely being felt and seen. The extinction of sharks is already apparent due to the extreme decline of different species of sharks. “Eight species of shark were studied and have declined by more than 50% in the past 15 years.” (Baum, 2003). Sharks have been deteriorating all over the world. Sooner or later it will be too late for us to do anything about it. First hand experience with a shark finning ship: Fishing sharks in Egypt is against the law. Marsa Alam is a town near Hurghada located in the southern-eastern part of Egypt on the western shore of the Red sea. On June 4th 2010 crew men who were live-aboard operators on a ship called “Royal Evolution and Eldabaran” noticed an unfamiliar boat. Turns out they were illegal Yemeni fisherman that had 10km of long-lines with sharks caught on to them near St Johns reefs. The crew men immediately released over a dozen sharks and potentially saved 100 more. Long-lining is a fishing technique used to capture mostly sharks and large fish.. The crew alerted Hossam Helmy a member of the “National party”. Hossam Helmy is CEO of Red Sea Diving Safari. He is in charge of any altercations that take place in Marsa Alam. Hossam contacted the authorities and the Yemini fishermen were placed under arrest. A week later another live-aboard crew boat called Golden Dolphin captured 2 more Yemeni boats located in Zabargad island. HEPCA’s own RV Red Defender captured 2 more Yemeni boats 56km off shore from Hamata. All illegal fishermen were imprisoned. The attorney general ordered the burial of all the sharks that were caught by these fishermen. On June 18th HEPCA and Red Sea Diving Safari collaborated and were given permission to study these captured sharks before burying them. There were twelve different species of sharks. Most of them still had their fins and a few were still being carved up. RSDS and HEPCA studied these sharks and collected data before burying these beautiful creatures sadly in a desert called Wadi El Gemal. Shark fin harvest, Tarqui Beach, Manta, Ecuador, 20-May-2013 (Ho, November 10, 2014) Ho, O. (2014, November 10). Major hotels pledge to ban shark's fin soup. Retrieved December 9, 2015. (Helmy, 2010) Primary photos my personal camera. (Corbis, march 9, 2012) Example:of Long-Lining) Watts, Jonathan. "Appetite for Shark Fin Soup 'causing Decline of Blue Sharks in UK Waters'" Theguardian. Guardian News and Media Limited or Its Affiliated Companies, 9 Mar. 2012. Web. The health risks of shark fin soup Studies have shown that shark fin soup contains cyanobacterial neurotoxins (BMAA). Neurodegenerative brain diseases are linked to BMAA. Examples of these diseases are Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)(Pablo, 2009). Shark fins also contain mercury which is a health risk by itself causing infertility, and heart problems.Another recent study found that 79% of shark fins tested contained high-levels of BMAA, a dangerous neurotoxin linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases (Mondo, Hammerchlag, Pablo, Banack, Mash, 2012). Laws With the popularity and profitability of shark finning increasing, steps were taken to curb the horrendous slaughtering of these sharks. Different countries have responded towards shark finning in different ways. Here in the United States, a law was put into place to restrict and prohibit the process. This ban or law enabled the United States to control what kind of fishing they will permit for any boat within 200 meters of US soil. This was called the Exclusive Economic Zone. “One major way to curb shark finning is for States to enact domestic legislations banning the process in its territorial waters. A coastal state has exclusive control over the fishing that occurs with a 200- mile radius surrounding its coastline; this is referred to as the exclusive economic zone” (Green, 2015, P. 708).Since the United States viewed this matter as a danger to the shark population and existence, they prohibited it. This law also prohibited any United States vessel to partake in fishing for sharks to fin. Other counties such as China, don’t have the same laws put into place. This is part of their culture and it is understandable that they don’t agree with banning the process. The demand is high for shark fin soup all the time, and with the process being mostly unregulated in certain areas, the practice will continue to occur. However, not only is the demand high, but the profits are also high, so people don’t mind taking the risks. In a lot of countries, such as the United States, not only is the shark finning itself banned, but the possession of shark fins are also illegal. (slidepoint.net) Conclusion It is safe to say that shark finning is unhealthy, immoral, barbaric, and expensive. The reason it is so expensive is because it’s demand is increasing. Many laws have been implemented but people still seem to not comprehend the dangers of shark finning on our ecosystem. Meddling with the natural order of the food chain will cause a lot of problems in our marine life. Laws have been set but the sharks do not have time on their side. Shark finning should be banned all over the world. This is not only a matter of saving the sharks but its saving a creature from becoming extinct. If not for the sake of the sharks, then for the sake of our marine ecosystem. References 1. Pablo, J.; Banack, S.A.; Cox, P.A.; Johnson, T.E.; Papapetropoulos, S.; Bradley, W.G.; Buck, A.; Mash, D.C. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neurol. Scand. 2009, 120, 216–225. [Google Scholar] 2. Murch, S.J.; Cox, P.A.; Banack, S.A.; Steele, J.C.; Sacks, O.W. Occurrence of β-methylamino-L- alanine (BMAA) in ALS/PDC patients from Guam. Acta Neurol. Scand. 2004, 110, 267–269. [Google Scholar] 3. Mondo, K., Hammerschlag, N., Basile, M., Pablo, J., Banack, S.A., and Mash, D.C. 2012. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in shark fins. Marine Drugs, 10: 509-520. 4. Man, Y., Wu, S., & Wong, M. (2014). Shark fin, a symbol of wealth and good fortune may pose health risks: The case of mercury. Environ Geochem Health Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 1015-1027. 5. Dell’Apa, A., Smith, M., & Kaneshiro-Pineiro, M. (2014). The Influence of Culture on the International Management of Shark Finning. Environmental Management, 151-161. 6. Green, C. (2015). AN INTERNATIONAL SOS (SAVE OUR SHARKS): HOW THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE USED TO SAVE OUR SHARKS. Pace International Law Review, 27(2) 7. Baum, JK, Myers, RA, Kehler, DG, Worm, B, Harley, SJ and Doherty, PA. (2003) Collapse and conservation of shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Science, 299: 389-392. 8. Ho, O. (2014, November 10). Major hotels pledge to ban shark's fin soup. Retrieved December 9, 2015, from http://www.soshiok.com/content/major-hotels-pledge-ban-sharks-fin-soup 9. AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, December 2011/January 2012. 10. Watts, Jonathan. "Appetite for Shark Fin Soup 'causing Decline of Blue Sharks in UK Waters'" Theguardian. Guardian News and Media Limited or Its Affiliated Companies, 9 Mar. 2012. Web. 11.Shark fin harvest, Tarqui Beach, Manta, Ecuador, 20-May-2013 12.(Helmy, 2010) Primary photos my personal camera.
Transcript of Shark Finningfaculty.sdmiramar.edu/faculty/sdccd/alowe... · 2015-12-14 · Shark finning Shark...
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
Abstract
Shark finning is the cutting off of the shark's fins and throwing the finless shark's body back into the ocean. Most of the time the shark would still be alive and would sink helplessly down to the bottom of the ocean while dying from suffocation or eaten by other predators due to its inability to swim. In China and most Asian countries they determine social status and wealth when they serve shark fin soup at weddings, dinner parties, etc. It is essential to have the soup served at weddings whether you are rich or not. Fisherman hunt sharks and their fins due to the price of this soup which is $100 a plate (Caty Fairclough). Sharks have been known to be killing machines because of the media's illustration of them all around the world. The truth is sharks are the least deadliest animal based on human death's per year. The misconception people have about sharks might affect their ability to sympathize with them, but in this case this is more about sympathizing with these creatures that some people don't care much for in the world, this is about the inhumanity in these killings. Not only is inhumane but it is messing the natural order of the ocean's food chain, the shark is the ocean's top predator and when thrown back into the ocean defenseless and paralyzed it becomes the prey. Shark finning is indiscriminate slaughter and is setting these creatures up to be extinct.
Shark Finning by Nora Helmy
Countries where shark fin soup is consumed
Shark finning is something that is done all over the world. Sharks are being finned in oceans around the world for the lucrative rewards of selling the fins alone. Asian countries account for much of the buyers of shark fins. The reason has a lot to do with their culture and beliefs. They usually concoct a traditional, arguably beneficial soup with the shark fins as the main ingredient. “Shark fins are the most valuable part of the shark, because they are used as the key ingredient and namesake in an Asian delicacy known as “shark fin soup” (Green, 2015). Shark fin soup is associated with being wealthy and part of the high-class society. People those societies ate shark fin soup. The soup and fins are made into a broth and eaten. The main reason the shark fin is added is to provide texture. It does not really have any flavor. “Ironically, the shark fin itself has little taste and the soup has to be flavored with other ingredients, such as chicken stock. The shark fin is mainly used to provide texture to the soup” (Green, 2015). Also, Chinese traditional medicine is very popular in China. According to their views, Chinese medicine claims to boast many benefits to the body, kidneys, and sexual reproductive systems. “Although shark fin soup is generally regarded as a status symbol for the wealthy, proponents cite health benefits from shark fins, claiming it is good for bones, kidneys and lungs and helps treat cancer” (Green, 2015). People who believe in Chinese traditional medicine consume this delicacy for the many benefits that arise from the shark fins. Shark fin soup is very expensive. Depending on the size, age and type of shark fin, the soups can go anywhere from twenty five to one thousand dollars a bowl. Now, that is a lot of money and profit. So, fishermen always have an incentive to go out and fish for sharks. It is worth the risks. If they come back with a full boat of shark fins, it will be more profitable of having any other fish onboard.
Shark finning
Shark finning is a torturous process that involves sharks being fished out of the water and then their fins are immediately sliced off. Even more horrible, the sharks are then thrown back into the water finless, left to die. “Shark finning is the process of catching and removing the fins of sharks at sea; and the remainder of the shark’s body is thrown back into the ocean. Often times, the shark is still alive when its body is discarded into the ocean. Without their fins, the shark is unable to swim. As a result, the sharks drown and die by suffocation” (Green, 2015). When thrown back into the water the shark is still alive most times. The predator becomes the prey. The shark can no longer feed or defend itself. This results in dying of suffocation or they end up being food to other prey. The fins are then sold, mostly to China. This is because of the reasons mentioned earlier. “Hong Kong is the largest shark fin trading center and shares about 59 % of the global trade, resulting in the fatality of 26 to 73 million shark fins with an overall median of 38 million of shark fins every year, pushing some species to the brink of extinction” (Man, Vu, Wong, 2014).
Effects of shark finning
It is clear to see that fishing this many sharks is going to cause some negative consequences. Overfishing the top predator of the ocean is definitely going to alter the ecosystem. When sharks are left defenseless in the water with their fins dissected from their bodies, they therefore turn into prey rather than predators. The fish that the sharks eat are reproducing and outnumbering the sharks, which in turns messes with the fish that they eat. The changes occur all the way down the food chain. Certain species of fish can be extinct from the over existence and abundance of their predators, resulting in wipe out of the entire species. The overfishing of the sharks has caused a decline in the number of sharks in the ocean. The ocean is not a resource containing unlimited sharks and fish. So, the effects are definitely being felt and seen. The extinction of sharks is already apparent due to the extreme decline of different species of sharks. “Eight species of shark were studied and have declined by more than 50% in the past 15 years.” (Baum, 2003). Sharks have been deteriorating all over the world. Sooner or later it will be too late for us to do anything about it.
First hand experience with a shark finning ship:
Fishing sharks in Egypt is against the law. Marsa Alam is a town near Hurghada located in the southern-eastern part of Egypt on the western shore of the Red sea. On June 4th 2010 crew men who were live-aboard operators on a ship called “Royal Evolution and Eldabaran” noticed an unfamiliar boat. Turns out they were illegal Yemeni fisherman that had 10km of long-lines with sharks caught on to them near St Johns reefs. The crew men immediately released over a dozen sharks and potentially saved 100 more. Long-lining is a fishing technique used to capture mostly sharks and large fish.. The crew alerted Hossam Helmy a member of the “National party”. Hossam Helmy is CEO of Red Sea Diving Safari. He is in charge of any altercations that take place in Marsa Alam. Hossam contacted the authorities and the Yemini fishermen were placed under arrest. A week later another live-aboard crew boat called Golden Dolphin captured 2 more Yemeni boats located in Zabargad island. HEPCA’s own RV Red Defender captured 2 more Yemeni boats 56km off shore from Hamata. All illegal fishermen were imprisoned. The attorney general ordered the burial of all the sharks that were caught by these fishermen. On June 18th HEPCA and Red Sea Diving Safari collaborated and were given permission to study these captured sharks before burying them. There were twelve different species of sharks. Most of them still had their fins and a few were still being carved up. RSDS and HEPCA studied these sharks and collected data before burying these beautiful creatures sadly in a desert called Wadi El Gemal.
Shark fin harvest, Tarqui Beach, Manta, Ecuador, 20-May-2013
(Ho, November 10, 2014) Ho, O. (2014, November 10). Major hotels pledge to ban shark's fin soup. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
(Helmy, 2010) Primary photos my personal camera.
(Corbis, march 9, 2012) Example:of Long-Lining) Watts, Jonathan. "Appetite for Shark Fin Soup 'causing Decline of Blue Sharks in UK Waters'" Theguardian. Guardian News and Media Limited or Its Affiliated Companies, 9 Mar. 2012. Web.
The health risks of shark fin soup
Studies have shown that shark fin soup contains cyanobacterial neurotoxins (BMAA). Neurodegenerative brain diseases are linked to BMAA. Examples of these diseases are Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)(Pablo, 2009). Shark fins also contain mercury which is a health risk by itself causing infertility, and heart problems.Another recent study found that 79% of shark fins tested contained high-levels of BMAA, a dangerous neurotoxin linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases (Mondo, Hammerchlag, Pablo, Banack, Mash, 2012).
Laws
With the popularity and profitability of shark finning increasing, steps were taken to curb the horrendous slaughtering of these sharks. Different countries have responded towards shark finning in different ways. Here in the United States, a law was put into place to restrict and prohibit the process. This ban or law enabled the United States to control what kind of fishing they will permit for any boat within 200 meters of US soil. This was called the Exclusive Economic Zone. “One major way to curb shark finning is for States to enact domestic legislations banning the process in its territorial waters. A coastal state has exclusive control over the fishing that occurs with a 200-mile radius surrounding its coastline; this is referred to as the exclusive economic zone” (Green, 2015, P. 708).Since the United States viewed this matter as a danger to the shark population and existence, they prohibited it. This law also prohibited any United States vessel to partake in fishing for sharks to fin. Other counties such as China, don’t have the same laws put into place. This is part of their culture and it is understandable that they don’t agree with banning the process. The demand is high for shark fin soup all the time, and with the process being mostly unregulated in certain areas, the practice will continue to occur. However, not only is the demand high, but the profits are also high, so people don’t mind taking the risks. In a lot of countries, such as the United States, not only is the shark finning itself banned, but the possession of shark fins are also illegal.
(slidepoint.net)
Conclusion
It is safe to say that shark finning is unhealthy, immoral, barbaric, and expensive. The reason it is so expensive is because it’s demand is increasing. Many laws have been implemented but people still seem to not comprehend the dangers of shark finning on our ecosystem. Meddling with the natural order of the food chain will cause a lot of problems in our marine life. Laws have been set but the sharks do not have time on their side. Shark finning should be banned all over the world. This is not only a matter of saving the sharks but its saving a creature from becoming extinct. If not for the sake of the sharks, then for the sake of our marine ecosystem.
References
1. Pablo, J.; Banack, S.A.; Cox, P.A.; Johnson, T.E.; Papapetropoulos, S.; Bradley, W.G.; Buck, A.; Mash, D.C. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neurol. Scand. 2009, 120, 216–225. [Google Scholar]
2. Murch, S.J.; Cox, P.A.; Banack, S.A.; Steele, J.C.; Sacks, O.W. Occurrence of β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in ALS/PDC patients from Guam. Acta Neurol. Scand. 2004, 110, 267–269. [Google Scholar]
3. Mondo, K., Hammerschlag, N., Basile, M., Pablo, J., Banack, S.A., and Mash, D.C. 2012. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in shark fins. Marine Drugs, 10: 509-520.
4. Man, Y., Wu, S., & Wong, M. (2014). Shark fin, a symbol of wealth and good fortune may pose health risks: The case of mercury. Environ Geochem Health Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 1015-1027.
5. Dell’Apa, A., Smith, M., & Kaneshiro-Pineiro, M. (2014). The Influence of Culture on the International Management of Shark Finning. Environmental Management, 151-161.
6. Green, C. (2015). AN INTERNATIONAL SOS (SAVE OUR SHARKS): HOW THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE USED TO SAVE OUR SHARKS. Pace International Law Review, 27(2)
7. Baum, JK, Myers, RA, Kehler, DG, Worm, B, Harley, SJ and Doherty, PA. (2003) Collapse and conservation of shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Science, 299: 389-392.
8. Ho, O. (2014, November 10). Major hotels pledge to ban shark's fin soup. Retrieved December 9, 2015, from http://www.soshiok.com/content/major-hotels-pledge-ban-sharks-fin-soup
9. AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, December 2011/January 2012.
10. Watts, Jonathan. "Appetite for Shark Fin Soup 'causing Decline of Blue Sharks in UK Waters'" Theguardian. Guardian News and Media Limited or Its Affiliated Companies, 9 Mar. 2012. Web.
11.Shark fin harvest, Tarqui Beach, Manta, Ecuador, 20-May-2013
12.(Helmy, 2010) Primary photos my personal camera.
