In China, shark fin soup originated during the Ming dynasty around the 14th Century. Initially it was a rare delicacy only enjoyed by the nobility and aristocracy.
Sharks were rare and hard to catch so it was only served on special occasions and to honored guests. It was considered one of the eight treasured foods of the seas and signified wealth, power, and prestige.
However during the Qing Dynasty, in the 18th and 19th centuries, shark fin soup began to be consumed by more people. As commercial fishing and trade increased the quality of lives of even rural peasants, shark fin soup became a highly sought after and a more available food. The popularity only increased as shark fin soup became part of Chinese traditional medicine.
Shark fins are believed to prevent cancer, heart disease, and lower cholesterol. They are also thought to help rejuvenate the body, improving the quality of the skin. Shark fin soup is also used to help improve appetite and boost sexual potency. Some people even believe it to be beneficial to the health of kidneys, blood, lungs, bones, and other major organs.
There is no medical evidence to support that shark fin soup helps with any of these health concerns. With its long cultural heritage and perceived medicinal value, the demand for shark fin soup has been steadily increasing. This demand has increased as the Chinese middle class has grown. This demand has lead to the brutal slaughter of millions of sharks every year.
Every year an estimated million sharks are caught for their shark fin. The practice of shark finning is incredibly cruel. Shark are caught with longlines, gillnets, and spears.
The reduction in shark populations is due solely to human fishing, and a vast majority of that fishing is done for the purposes of harvesting fins for shark fin soup. Opponents of the soup propose the use of alternatives, such as artificial shark fins, or the fins of non-threatened fish species, as a more environmentally friendly way to achieve the same effect. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements.
To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Jessica Larson-Wang. The Origins of Shark Fin Soup. How Shark Fin Soup is Made. Shark Fin Soup in Modern Culture. The Impact of Shark Fin Soup. Give us feedback. In , the UN developed the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, but no country is forced to participate and progress has been slow. Beyond that, shark legislation varies greatly between states, providing anything from zero Hong Kong to weak to full protection the Bahamas.
The US Shark Conservation Act requires that all sharks except smooth dogfish be brought ashore with their fins intact. Many people believe this is the only way to secure an enforceable ban on shark finning, while enabling the collection of species-specific management data. The EU approved similar legislation in , and other countries are following suit. It is critical to reduce demand, by changing attitudes. There are encouraging signs that shark-fin soup consumption is declining and several dozen airlines and hotel chains have stopped serving it.
In , the Chinese Government banned it at official functions, though the motive was more for austerity than conservation.
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