Shark Soup vs. Shark Conservations

Source: http://www.sharkguardian.org/shark-fin-soup/

Everyone knows about shark attacks, but no one knows about the ongoing attack on sharks by humans. Every year there is approximately 10 deadly shark attacks in comparison to the 100 million sharks killed by humans. Nevertheless, humans are more predacious and are driving shark populations towards extinction by shark finning. In Asia, shark fin soup is considered a delicacy. Back then it was only consumed by the wealthy on special occasions, but now it’s become affordable and trendy for the middle class. The increase in consumption has lead to a decrease in shark population. As apex predators in the ocean, sharks are crucial to keeping the ecosystem’s equilibrium. Thus, the decline in sharks is disrupting this equilibrium by affecting the food chain in the ocean (Ling 2008).

            A few countries have set a maximum number of catches, shark size limit, and area conservations for commercial species. This may be beneficial for that species but it does not offer a broad framework for preserving the full diversity of sharks. Areas found with high shark diversity within territorial waters have more effective shark conservation because the countries have good regulatory capacities.Yet it is more challenging if it is just based on a specific protected area because of the large spatial amount of conservation in priority areas that embody major biogeographic units such as those out in the open ocean. Thus, priority areas in international waters are much more difficult in to attain management and policies (Lucifora, et al. 2011).

I recommend to watch this video on how sharks are finned and the effect on the food web in the ocean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO7hvOtYnck.

References

Article used:
Lucifora, Luis O., Garcia, Veronica B., Worm, Boris. Global Diversity Hotspots and

Conservation Priorities for Sharks. Plos One, 05 May 2011. Web. 25 Sept 2014.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0019356#s3

Background:

Ling, Lisa. Shark fin soup alters an ecosystem. CNN, 12 December 2008. Web. 24 Sept 2014.
            http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/10/pip.shark.

finning/index.html?eref=rss_latest.