You’re probably wondering how soup could have a significant impact on the planet. This fascinated me so much that I have been studying for months now how the demand for one item can wreak absolute havoc on our environment.

The shark population has been drastically decreasing because sharks are being killed and defined by the millions to make the increasingly popular shark fin soup. This soup was once regarded as a Chinese delicacy and is now consumed by millions across Asia daily.

Sadly, the increase in popularity of the soup has resulted in a devastating increase in shark fishing. More than 100 million sharks are killed around the world every year, and nearly every single species of shark has shown a global decline of at least 50%. The process is both brutal and disturbing as it shows frightening links to how one product can create such a global mess.

Sharks are caught, their fins quickly sliced off, and then comes the real horror – they are thrown back into the ocean still alive until they slowly die on the ocean floor.

Since shark fishing is legal in international waters it has become excruciatingly difficult to regulate and control. For example, environmental groups report that only one government boat patrols Caribbean waters a few times during the year, which is an area in desperate need of protection.

One of the most terrifying aspects of shark fishing is the significant impact it will have on our planet and our lives. Just as the deforestation of the Amazon impacts our environment, so too does the destruction of a single species such as sharks.

As each organism in every one of our planet’s diverse environments is intrinsically connected, it becomes clear that when we destroy just one plant or animal in an ecosystem, such as trees in the Amazon or sharks in the ocean, the whole world will feel the effects.

Living in the United States, far from the Amazon or the ocean floor, it is hard to imagine the tremendous impact the destruction of a single species can have, but as these effects become so much more widespread and dangerous, they also become more visible and closer to home.

For example, research conducted by marine biologist Julia Baum shows how the depletion of sharks has affected the people of North Carolina. Every year since 2004, at least one scallop fishery has closed in North Carolina.

What do sharks have to do with scallop farms? Sharks are one of the top predators in the marine ecosystem. As their population has decreased, the population of sharks’ prey has increased immensely.

Cownose rays prey on scallops. Without sharks to keep the Cownose population in check, the scallop population has decreased to such an extent that many of the scallop farms have been forced to close.

So how does that affect the people of North Carolina? When the scallop farms close hundreds of workers are left jobless. The local economy suffers from the loss of an important market.

Science has proven that when our marine systems undergo vast change, everything around them will eventually collapse. Sadly, this is exactly what happened with the cod industry in 1990s due to over fishing. This human induced crisis cost billions of dollars to correct and today we are still seeing the negative results of our actions.

The real issue here is that we have to learn from situations like this and create ways we can educate consumers and ourselves so that we don’t cause the demise of our own existence.

There are many ways we can get involved and make a difference. For example, check out the website listed below and learn about the petition and movement to put an end to shark fishing. As consumers, we need to unite and let corporations, merchants, and traders know that we won’t tolerate further destructive practices. Also check out the brilliant film End of the Line which outlines in great detail the plight of our oceans and marine ecosystems globally.

More info:  End of the Line

Also Visit: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/endsharkfinning

By
Beth Doane
Rain Tees Founder and Designer