THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Shark-finning: a brutal practice that must be stopped

Shark-finning: a brutal practice that must be stopped

I am writing to protest against the continued practice of shark-finning. Shark-finning is a barbaric and wasteful activity. It involves slicing the fins off live sharks and discarding the butchered shark back into the ocean.

 

Although shark-fin soup is seen as a delicacy in some Asian cultures, the increasing demand for shark fins is greatly diminishing the shark population globally. It is estimated that between 88-100 million sharks are being slaughtered every year. If this continues it is expected that sharks will be extinct within 10-20 years.
Furthermore, it is extremely wasteful for a number of reasons. Firstly, even though shark-fins can be sold for as much as $300 per pound it is tasteless and has no nutritional value. Secondly, one the fin is removed the maimed shark is thrown overboard thereby wasting the rest of the shark. Surely we should not allow this brutality to continue?
Sharks are a crucial part in the food chain. Without the sharks everything will be unbalanced. Sharks are apex predators, which defined means that they are the ones that keep everything else in control. They weed out the sick and injured so that populations of fish stay balanced.
In conclusion, we must stop this brutal practice to ensure the survival of sharks for future generations. We can do this by boycotting the use of shark fins and raising public awareness.
Matilda Boyce
Bangkok Patana School
nationthailand