Fishing for Sharks History of Shark Finning Protection Towards Sharks Importance of Sharks Sharks Are a Top Predator of the Ocean

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Shark Finning Tiana Barron-Wright

Fishing for Sharks History of Shark Finning Protection Towards Sharks Importance of Sharks Sharks are a top predator of the ocean. However, sharks are a target Shark fin soup originated in 968 AD by an emperor from the Sung The Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000, was signed by former Sharks play an important role in the ecosystem. Sharks maintain the for humans. Shark finning is the process of cutting off a shark’s Dynasty. The emperor created shark fin soup to display his wealth, President Bill Clinton. This act prohibited the process of shark finning in species below them in the ecosystem and serve as a health indicator for the fins while it is still alive and throwing the shark back into the power and generosity towards his guest. Serving shark fin soup the United States. This bans anyone in the United States jurisdiction from ocean. The decrease of sharks in the oceans has led to the decline of coral ocean where it will die. After getting their fins cut off, some sharks shark finning, owning shark fins without the shark’s body, and landing reefs, sea grass beds, and the loss of commercial fisheries. Without sharks was seen as a show of respect. Chinese Emperors thought the dish in the ecosystem, other predators can thrive. For example, groupers can can starve to death, get eaten by other fish or drown to death. shark fins without the body. This act also has NOAA (National Oceanic had medicinal benefits. Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy in and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries to give Congress a report increase in numbers and eat herbivores. When the number of herbivores Fishermen hunt shark fins because the value of the fins are worth Asian countries. Shark fin soup is commonly served at weddings detailing efforts to implement the act. The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 decrease, macro-algae expands and coral cannot compete, letting algae more than the rest of the body. Shark fins can sell for $650 a because the hosts show can show their guest their wealth. Today, was signed by former President Barack Obama. This act requires all sharks dominate the ecosystem. (Oceana) kilogram. Shark finning is illegal in many parts of the world. The the price of a bowl of shark fin soup can cost $100. The price can in the United States to be brought to shore with their fins naturally consequences of shark finning as led to the decline of sharks in the vary because of the type and style of shark fin served. attached. (NOAA Fisheries). According to the PEW Research Center, in world. (SharkTruth) 2009, Palau created the first shark sanctuary. In 2015, areas in the Pacific Ocean have joined together to create the first regional sanctuary in Micronesia. As of 2016, there are 17 shark sanctuaries around the world. This picture shows a (PEW Charitable Trusts) fisherman cutting of the fin of a hammerhead shark in the process of shark finning. (Shark Stewards)

Financial Value of Shark Fins

Shark finning is practice of cutting of shark fins while the shark is A bowl of traditional shark fin soup. (bionicgrrrl, still alive. After the fins are cut off, the shark is thrown back in the Flickr) water alive. Some sharks starve to death, get eaten by other fish or drown. Sharks drown because they need to keep moving to have Population of Sharks water flow through gills to receive oxygen. Without fins, the sharks Sharks play a huge part in the ecosystem. This picture shows how will drown. (www.sharkfinning.net). The fins compose less than An estimated 100 million sharks are killed worldwide each year. sharks maintain the species below them in the food chain. (Shark 5% of the body but have more financial value. Shark fins can be More than 70 species of sharks are endangered. According to the Business) worth up to $650 USD per kilogram. The pectoral fin of a whale International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the smooth References shark can be worth up to $50,000 USD. The pectoral fin of a hammerhead shark and the scalloped hammerhead shark are two species of endangered sharks. Between 1.3 and 2.7 millions of Fairclough, Caty. “Shark Finning: Sharks Turned Prey.” Smithsonian Ocean. basking shark can be worth up to $50,000 USD. However, the rest August 2013. Accessed December 9th, 2018. Retrieved from: of the body has less financial value, costing around 0.89$ USD per these species are killed each year because of shark finning. The picture above shows shark sanctuaries around the world. The https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/sharks-rays/shark-finning-sharks-turned-prey top half of the picture illustrates the location. The bottom lists the kilogram. Shark finning requires less space on boats because Around 73 million sharks are killed for shark fin soup. More Geiling, Natasha. “Save the Sharks by Swimming With Them.” Smithsonian.com. fishermen do not have to transport the entire shark. (SharkTruth) than 50% of shark fin trade in the world occurs in Hong Kong. locations, sizes, and establishments of the shark sanctuaries. (The 14 August 2014. Accessed December 9th, 2018. Retrieved from: Today, the populations of sharks have decreased between 60- PEW Charitable Trusts). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/save-sharks-swimming-them- 70% because of human fisheries. (Fairclough, 2013) 180952302/ Tourism “History of Shark Fin Soup.” Shark Truth. Accessed December 9th, 2018. According to the University of British Columbia, shark tourism earns Retrieved from: http://www.sharktruth.com/learn/history-of-shark-fin-soup/ around $314 million annually. The shark tourism industry is expected “Sharks.” WildAid. Accessed December 9th, 2018. Retrieved from: to reach a total of $780 million annually over the next 20 years. John https://wildaid.org/programs/sharks/ Vater, the head of Ceviche Tours, founded the Whale Shark Festival. “Shark Conservation Act.” NOAA Fisheries. 24 January 2018. Accessed At this festival, tourist can swim with whale sharks. Shark tourism December 9th, 2018. Retrieved from: have whale sharks has the attraction because of their large size, slow https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/laws-and-policies/shark-conservation-act movements, and proximity to the surface. Whale sharks are filter “Shark Fin Trade.” Shark Truth. Accessed December 9th, 2018. Retrieved from: feeders that swim close to the surface to feed on plankton. Other http://www.sharktruth.com/learn/shark-finning/ species of sharks have received attention as well. For example, great “Shark Sanctuaries Around the World: Protecting the shark population.” PEW white sharks have been spotted in New England. Areas in Cape Cod Charitable Trusts. 18 March 2016. Accessed December 9th, 2018. Retrieved have noticed an increase in shark tourism. (Geiling,2014) from:https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact- sheets/2016/03/shark-sanctuaries-around-the-world “The Importance of Sharks: In the Ecosystem” Oceana. Accessed December 9th, . Shark tourism 2018. Retrieved from: https://eu.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks is a popular th attraction in “What is Shark Finning?” www.stopsharkfinning.net. Accessed December 9 , 2018. Retrieved from: http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/what-is-shark-finning/ This picture was taken on January 2nd, 2013 in Hong Kong, one of the some areas. biggest markets for shark fins. There are different types of shark fins The decrease The picture above shows a ship holding a large number of shark fins on the boat, depicting the importance of the fins. (Antony Dickenson) of sharks can on a ship and the amount of sharks impacted by the process of shark negatively finning. (EcoWatch) affect shark tourism. (CNN)