Why would anyone eat shark-fin soup?
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I am writing to protest against shark finning. Shark finning is like a death sentence for all sharks. Most shark populations are decreasing because of this cruel, brutal practice.
A shark is caught, its fins are cut off, and the still-living shark is tossed back overboard to drown or bleed to death. Fishermen can get as much as US$300 per pound of fin. The meat, on the other hand, is far less valuable, so the fishermen toss it overboard to save space for more fins.
Shark-fin soup is practically tasteless – the entire flavour is from the broth. The fins are just added for texture and novelty. Why do people make shark-fin soup?
People fear being attack by a shark, and films such as “Jaws” portray sharks as vengeful hunters of humans. Sharks are often thought of as a man-eaters, but in fact most shark attacks on humans are thought to be mistakes.
Sharks are the apex predators in the food chain. When all the sharks die out, the populations of other fish will grow and the balance of the ocean’s food chain will be in danger.
Tang Tang
Bangkok Patana School
