Dear Editor,
Nearly a hundred million sharks are killed for shark fin soup every year. Fins are cut off and often thrown back into the sea alive. Human cruelty in the name of commercial fishing is leading to a dramatic decline in shark populations and entire ecosystems. Currently, international concerns about the sustainability and welfare of sharks have impacted consumption and availability of the soup to very small extent worldwide. Recently health concerns have arisen about the high levels of toxins in shark fins. There are claims that shark fins prevent cancer; however, there is no scientific evidence, and one study found that shark cartilage has no value in cancer treatment in general. In addition, there is no scientific evidence that shark fin can be used to treat all diseases. Sharks biologically reproduce toxins, so eating shark meat can increase your risk of dementia and heavy metal poisoning like mercury poisoning. A wildlife NGO has warned that eating too much shark fin can lead to infertility in men. Larger fish such as sharks, tuna, and swordfish are known to contain high concentrations of mercury and methylmercury salts. For pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children, the FDA has recommended avoiding consumption of fish that are high in mercury. High levels of toxins are present in shark fin. Because fins contain neurotoxins, eating shark fin soup and cartilage pills can put one at risk for degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and as well as Parkinson’s disease. Shark fins often contain toxins as well. Shark fins used in the soup are the cartilaginous dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins. These are regularly harvested through a process known as shark finning, which involves taking only the fins and discarding the carcass, alive or dead. Overfishing poses a major threat to the global shark population. Some groups advise against consuming the soup due to concerns about the global shark population and how sharks are being inhumanely ripped off and returned alive to the ocean, unable to swim, hunt or to survive. The prevalence of shark finning and the sustainability of shark species are both discussed. All countries has to ban the sale and possession of shark fins, effectively eliminating the soup’s availability. China shows no interest in banning shark fin soup because of the social significance of the dish in Chinese culture. One must act to protect sharks through the Global Oceans Treaty.
VijayKumar H K
[email protected]
Raichur, Karnataka
Environmentalist
