Shark fin is one of the most expensive products in the world, primarily consumed in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
The “Ultimate Luxury” Dish of the Elite
Luxurious shark fin soup.
Historically, the Chinese have regarded shark fin soup as a symbol of wealth and hospitality, often serving it on special occasions such as weddings or banquets. The market price for a bowl of this soup is around 2 million VND.
Although shark fin soup is described as lacking a unique taste and there is no verified evidence that consuming it significantly enhances health, rather than fading away, this dish has become increasingly popular in modern times, serving as a status symbol for affluent families to assert their social standing.
In fact, during the 1970s, a saying in Hong Kong (China) went: “Fried shark fin with rice” to describe the lifestyle of the wealthy, implying they were rich enough to buy shark fins daily.
The Brutal “Harvesting” Process
However, few are aware that behind this nutritious, luxurious dish lies the slaughter of sharks by humans. Millions of sharks of various sizes are killed solely for their fins.
As a premium food item, the market for harvesting shark fins is extremely competitive and ruthless.
Each shark is pulled onto land, where all of its fins are completely cut off, including two dorsal fins, two pectoral fins, three caudal fins, and the lower tail fin. Since only the fins are needed, the remaining body is considered worthless.
Whether alive or dead, they are thrown back into the sea. At this point, the fate of the sharks is quite tragic. Severely injured and unable to swim, they can only wait to die from blood loss or be torn apart by other fish.
Aside from the wastefulness, this practice is deemed barbaric by many organizations and animal lovers. While killing an animal for food is unavoidable, it should be done humanely, allowing the creature to pass away peacefully without waste.
Devastating Consequences Beyond Sharks
In addition to the brutal hunting process, the impact of shark finning extends far beyond the immense suffering of these creatures. Statistics show that sharks are among the most vulnerable species, not only due to intense hunting but also because they have a low reproductive rate.
As apex predators, sharks play a vital role in the marine ecosystem; thus, a significant decline in their numbers can adversely affect the overall ecosystem.
Shark species on the brink of extinction, severely impacting the ecosystem.
For example, the decreasing population of hammerhead sharks leads to an increase in rays, which are hammerhead sharks’ preferred prey. As the number of rays in the ocean increases, they will consume scallops, clams, and many other prey. This creates an ecological imbalance, threatening the overall existence of biodiversity.
Shark finning not only affects the underwater ecosystem but also creates a “butterfly effect” that impacts the land.
“In addition to the illegal catching of sharks, this activity also leads to the deaths of several seabird species, some of which are endangered,” a researcher noted.
According to the Jakarta Post, Indonesia produces at least 486 tons of dried shark fins each year. Despite opposition and bans from the government, shark fishing continues daily and remains largely unregulated. Currently, Indonesia is a leader among the 20 countries that catch the most sharks in the world, resulting in a decline of 40% to 99% in various popular shark species. According to the Nature Conservation Organization, 71% of these are classified as vulnerable and at high risk of extinction.
It is estimated that 73 million sharks are killed each year solely for the famous shark fin soup.
