Forty million (40,000,000) sharks are slaughtered for their fins every year, according to National Geographic. That raises the issue from animal cruelty to global crisis. Shark fins are considered a delicacy in China (almost like caviar in the UK). Shark fin soup is a luxurious meal and sign of prestige in Chinese culture. Over the last few years the population of China has grown and so has the demand for soup—but there are only so many sharks in the ocean. Already, many sharks have been pushed to the brink of extinction—according to Stop Shark Finning, many species have had 95% of their populations decimated since the 1970s.
It's sort of mind boggling when you hear the number for the first time—it just doesn't make sense. Maybe because it's something most of us don't think about; sharks getting killed for their fins. But it's happening every day. Every day, "fishermen" catch sharks, pull them out of the ocean, cut off their fins, and throw the still-living remains back into the ocean, where they slowly either starve to death, are eaten alive by other fish, or drown (if they are not in constant movement their gills cannot extract oxygen from the water). Shark fins are being "harvested" in ever greater numbers to feed the growing demand for shark fin soup, an Asian "delicacy". It's called shark finning, and it's happening all over the world.
Project AWARE campaign to make shark finning illegal across the world. They have petitions, are creating conservations, and group together regularly with fishery ministers to change the laws. It only takes a click of a button to sign the petition and it could help insure a better future of sharks across the world.
To help support the campaign, go online to http://www.projectaware.org/ . You can join the foundation to show your support or donate. Every penny counts! Thank you so much again for reading my blog, I really appreciate it and any responses are welcome. If you do respond, please can you tell me where you come from i.e. your home town and country?
- Had you heard of the problems with shark finning before?
- Do you now feel more informed about the issue of shark fin soup?
- Would you now be prepared to do any of the following things to help provide sharks with a better future…?
- Make a donation to ‘Project AWARE’?
- Sign up to ‘Project AWARE’?
- Tell your family and friends about ‘Project AWARE’?
Many thanks, Elly Mangan
