Have you ever gone to a restaurant and discovered that shark fin soup is on the menu? Have you ever tried it or eaten it? If it turns out that you have eaten shark fin, don’t do it again! It’s because in order to get the shark fin, the technique of shark finning can be described as cruel for the shark.
If you’ve heard the myth that shark fin is good for your health, you’re misinformed! In fact, a number of studies have found that eating shark fin can be damaging to one’s health. Whoa, how damaging is that? Let’s find out on this article as well as other reasons why we shouldn’t consume shark fin anymore!
1st Reason – Shark finning is done in a cruel way
Humans often obtain shark fins through the shark finning process, which means cutting shark fins off living sharks and throwing the sharks back into the water without fins. Isn’t it cruel?
The reason for only taking the fins is none other than its economic value. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ website, a kilogram of shark fin costs between IDR 750,000 and IDR 2,000,000, whereas other parts, particularly flesh, cost only IDR 25,000. The issue is that sharks can’t survive without their fins, so they’ll die as well.
2nd Reason – A declining shark population threatens the marine ecosystem’s balance
Because they are hunted continuously, it is not surprising that the shark population continues to decline. According to the Sharks Research Institute, between 73 and 100 million sharks die each year as a result of shark finning. According to a list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and posted by WWF, a quarter of the 118 shark species found in Indonesia are given the endangered status.
Shark overfishing can have a negative influence on marine ecosystems since a number of shark species operate as apex predators in the food chain. Thus, its existence is also useful for maintaining a balanced marine ecosystem cycle. As predators, sharks will only prey on fish that are sick, old, or weak. This is important to prevent the spread of disease to other fish in the ocean and also to prevent certain species in the ocean from becoming too dominant.
3rd Reason – Shark fins are dangerous for human health
Consuming shark fins can have a negative impact on human health in addition to the hunting process, which is very harmful to sharks and has a negative impact on the oceans. This is due to sharks’ high mercury levels, which are significantly higher than those found in other fish. This high mercury concentration has been linked to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, central nervous system damage, and impaired brain function.
So there you have it: three reasons why we should stop eating shark fin. Sharks play a critical role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, yet their numbers are declining. Therefore, it is very important for us to maintain the survival of this species as well as other marine species.
Furthermore, we may also contribute to protect the ocean and its species by learning more about them and their conservation measures. You don’t have to be concerned about where to begin. Simply watch the Sail to Campus talk show on the EcoNusa YouTube channel to learn more about a variety of different marine issues directly from the experts.
