The decrease of sharks due to shark fin soup is a significant environmental issue driven by high demand. Approximately 73 to 100 million sharks are killed annually for their fins, leading to a decline of 50% to 70% shark populations. The practice of shark finning, where fins are removed while the sharks are still alive, is inhumane and unsustainable, contributing to the decline of these apex predators. Shark finning is linked to the CITES, which has listed several shark species to protect them from overfishing. The demand for shark fin soup has led to a global shark fin trade, valued at nearly USD 1 billion, raising concerns about animal welfare and ecological sustainability. Efforts to regulate the trade and implement sustainable practices are crucial to address this issue and protect shark populations.
The shark finning practice is inhumane and wasteful for several reasons. Firstly, it is extremely cruel to the sharks, as they are often still alive when discarded, unable to swim, hunt, or survive, leading to a slow and painful death. Secondly, it is wasteful in terms of the shark meat that is discarded. Shark meat can be consumed or used for other purposes, but the sole focus on fins leads to a waste of this resource. Thirdly, the practice is wasteful in the sense that it contributes to the decline of shark populations. Sharks are slow-growing and have low reproductive rates, making them highly susceptible to extinction. The high demand for shark fins incentivizes fishermen to hunt sharks intensively, leading to overfishing and a further decline in shark populations.
An estimated 100 million sharks are lost annually to human activities. Much of this catastrophic phenomenon is caused by the excessive demand for shark fin soup. This delicacy is popular in East Asia, particularly China, which has become an epicenter for the consumption of exotic wildlife. A large population of sharks is also lost as bycatch due to industrial fishing.
Sharks kill an average of 5 to 10 humans each year worldwide. In recent years, there were 7 confirmed shark-related fatalities last year, which aligns with the five-year annual global average of six unprovoked fatalities per year. In contrast, humans kill approximately 73-100 million sharks annually through various practices.
In my final opinion not speaking upon for others. Is that sharks don’t deserve any sort of pain like this. They are just animals in their own territory and people expect to not get acted, it’s rarely for a shark to attack or even look at you for attack unless you endanger yourself. Not many would care about the decrease of the sharks and that why they mostly let this happen, let them get killed and decrease. It’s in my opinion inhuman and we need to stop this.
