Shark Finning in China

            In China’s semi- socialist, semi-totalitarian economy, one would think that China would have their undesirable reputations under control and in sync with other worldly moral views. Surprisingly, China is proud of practicing an injustice in which other countries see as a disgusting and selfish act: The act of shark finning.

The Shark Fin Craze

           

            Shark finning is a brutal yet profitable “practice of global trade in which the fins of sharks are typically hacked off a live shark” (NYTimes) only to be thrown back into the water finless, leaving it to die slowly as it sinks to the bottom of the sea. You may wonder what makes this brutal practice so attractive to these Chinese fishermen? Simply put, MONEY!
            Shark fins can be sold for $300 per pound. With each shark fin weighing around 1/8 of a pound, each shark fin equates to roughly $40. Further on down the trading line, shark fin soup, with only one shark fin, can be ultimately sold to the end consumer in a restaurant for a whopping $100!

            If China’s reputation is so bad, why does China refuse to regulate this detrimental practice? Reasoning is because shark fin is a status of wealth and a mark of tradition in China, and used as a commodity in shark fin soup. Whereas the fins are largely tasteless, they are valued for their texture. They also provide many benefits to its consumers as it allegedly boosts sexual potency, enhances skin quality, increases one’s energy, prevents heart disease, and lowers one’s cholesterol.

            With China’s economy on the rise, more affluent people can afford to purchase this symbol of a luxurious life, directly causing the demand for shark fins to increase. This century long tradition is profitable to the fishermen and businesses of China, further contributing to their superior economic status. Because of this, China’s government refuses to implement any laws that ban shark finning.

Laws Opposing Shark Finning

           

            In 2000, the U.S. Shark Finning Prohibition Act made an effort to curtail this practice. This law “restricts shark finning in all federal waters... It also calls for an international effort to ban shark finning globally. The first international ban on finning was instated in 2004 with sponsorship from the United States, the European community, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Trinidad and Venezuela” (TreeHugger). Notice that this international ban does not include China, now accountable for 95% of shark fin consumption (China.org.cn). “It is estimated that 100 to 200 million sharks annually are killed for their fins alone” (Sharkfriends.com).

             Few countries have actually banned fining entirely, and many more need to be encouraged to enact legislation. Even though many Asian countries oppose shark finning, “laws can help by curbing access to the fins that are sold. For instance, Hawaii has outlawed selling shark fin soup and California is in the process of approving a ban on selling shark fins”(AnimalPlanet).

            As a result of pressure from opposing countries, China agreed to “not land shark fins that weigh more than 5 percent of the ‘dressed’ weight of the sharks: that is, the weight of the carcass after the removal of the head and innards” (sharksavers.org). Little by little, more shark protections are being proposed and passed throughout the world.

The Problem

           

            The problem in dealing with legislation is that the practice of catching people actually finning sharks is difficult without enough law enforcers. “Once they are instituted, enforcement of these regulations must occur to ensure compliance” (Sharksavers.org). The Chinese government lacks adequate enforcement because the costs of supplying these officials are outweighed by the benefits they reap from it. In addition, bribery and corruption are common which makes it easier for these poachers to acquire these valuable fins to trade.

            “Sharks, as predators of the sea, play a vital role in regulating the ecological balance, particularly the health of important commercial fish species, population balance, and protection of coral reefs” (JournalOnline). This profitable trade is blinding China of the side effects that this practice can have to the world’s food chain. "Shark finning is not only cruel; it is irresponsible and unsustainable fishing at its highest degree. In spite of this, it has been close to impossible to attain any international binding management and conservation measures to curtail this practice” (AnimalPlanet).

WildAid

            On September 22^nd, 2011, a charity program called WildAid launched a charity campaign to persuade Chinese people to give up this delicacy. This campaign is led by NBA star Yao Ming, who is an advocate to reduce animal cruelty. WildAid reports that the shark fin market is estimated to have grown around 5% per year, and this number is only going to increase as the Chinese become more affluent. In addition, WildAid reports that 95% of all shark fin is consumed within China (WSJ). This fact proves how oblivious and selfish China is for continuing to legalize this practice. WildAid is striving to reduce the demand for shark fin soup by educating people. They are sponsoring public commercials in China targeted towards all consumers, which show hidden footage of shark finning to convey the message across to all individuals to not participate in this practice.

Potential Solution

             

            In my opinion, Chinese people will never be persuaded to stop eating shark fin soup without the power of the law against them. Because the Chinese government refuses to ban this practice, I think it may be more reasonable to boycott this industry. Many businesses, including the three largest supermarket chains of Shanghai, have taken the initiative to take shark fins off of their shelves and menus in hopes of creating nationwide awareness. “Meanwhile, Chinese restaurant chain South Beauty also removed it from its menus in November. In the U.S., Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon have enacted legislation that banned the trade, sale and possession of the ingredient” (WSJ).

            I think this luxurious item should have limited availability, which would indubitably reduce the risk of shark extinction. Instead of consuming this meal regularly, I think shark fin soup should be limited to wedding banquets and high-end restaurants to help preserve the rare identity of this gelatinous delicacy.

            “This is a peer-based practice, and therefore it is the peer-group, not the government, that will most effectively disenfranchise the practice” (Tyee). By enacting laws in which it is illegal for the end suppliers to deliver shark fin soup to its customers, demand will decrease, thus reducing the attractively of this profitable market. Hopefully legislation will prevail in the near future before it’s too late.