Shark fin is harmful to health

Contrary to popular belief, shark fins have very little nutritional value and can even be harmful to long-term health because they contain large amounts of mercury.

Whether they love or hate them, sharks are still high-level predators that play an important role in marine ecosystems. Their decline in numbers is a consequence of all the bad disturbances caused to the ocean due to poor management and human greed, Dr. Simon Cripps, WWF's Global Program Manager in Switzerland, the statement in the latest report of this organization on the World Ocean Day 8/6.

According to reports, millions of sharks have been killed each year due to overexploitation and trade. Many children die randomly by catching tuna and swordfish, others are caught for meat or just for fins, traditional medicine and the main ingredient of an expensive popular shark fin soup in Asia .

Consumers may be shocked to learn how people take fish fins to prepare the soup they eat. Sharks were caught up, cut off and dumped the remains into the sea, the report revealed.

This destructive and wasteful fishing activity is pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Simon Cripps said some populations, including tiger shark and bull shark, have declined by 90%. Species that are considered less threatening, such as spiny dogfish and porbeagle, are caught for meat and fish oil (mainly consumed in Europe), also on the way. serious decline.

With these huge fins, how many sharks have died?(Photo: worldandi.com)

Weak management is a major threat to marine sharks and marine life in general. According to the WWF International Conservation Fund, three-quarters of global commercial fish stocks have been overexploited, catching up to their recovery limits. Scientists recently discovered that 90% of large predatory fish, such as sharks, have disappeared, are removed from the oceans by large-scale industrial fishing vessels.

Sharks have survived well before the dinosaurs appeared, and proved to be highly viable. But with the current trend, they will have to ask for help to survive the first half of the 21st century.

"Think about it the next time you see a fish fin soup on the menu. Maybe you'll just want to order the broth," Cripps said.

Hong Minh