by Kathleen Fox

Created on: November 29, 2008

For most of history, sharks have been portrayed as cold-blooded killers in movies and books. They have reeled in more than $80 million dollars for movie companies and publishers. We've continued to take advantage of these misunderstood fish by slaughtering, and more recently "finning" them, for our necessities until some species are almost extinct. Because of the decreasing numbers in the shark population, shark "finning" should be outlawed. The human race has believed sharks to be a threat to our kind; only recently are we beginning to see that we are a threat to them.

Boats arrive at docks everyday with shark fins hanging from the fishing rig like laundry on a thin clothesline. Harvesting shark fins can be brutal, although most see it as payback for the occasional shark attacks they have on humans. "Sharks kill an average of four people worldwide every year," states Juliet Eilperin from the Washington Post, "while humans kill anywhere from 26 million to 73 million sharks annually."

Shark "finning" is a violent practice. Most people are against it because they see it as morally corrupt. When a shark is either caught by net or reeled in by pole, it is thrown onto the deck of the boat, and from there the fins are cut off with a hot metal blade. Fisherman will capture live sharks, fin them, and release the fin-less fish back into the water while they are still alive. With no fins to swim, the immobile shark soon dies from drowning or other predators (The Independent, Steve Connor).

Shark fins are most commonly used for shark fin soup, which is considered a status symbol throughout Asia, particularly in China. Says Steve Connor from the Science Editor, "In China it is considered healthy and full of nutrients; most even go as far to say they [fins] prevent cancer and other ailments." Even though there is no scientific proof that supports these claims, a single bowl of shark fin soup ranges anywhere from $100-$160 per bowl (www.sharkfriends.com).

Currently, there is major trade for shark fins in black markets all over the world. Alibaba.com, a business to business marketplace that is 40% owned by U.S. internet giant Yahoo!, provides small companies in China the chance to find buyers and sellers overseas. Here, it is said that among the thousands of products displayed on Alibaba's site, there are numerous types of shark fins starting at $220 per pound (Business Week, Bruce Einhorn). Not only is vast trade done illegally, but fishermen who sell the fins also ask for too

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