What Are Shark Fins Used for?
Shark fins are extremely expensive; one pound sells for approximately $880 in Hong Kong, according to the National Geographic News report in 2003.Shark fins are viewed as a source of food and medicine all around the world. Over 30 different species of sharks have their fins removed in a practice that is referred to as shark finning.In many countries, shark finning is prohibited because of the threat to the endangered species of sharks being killed only for their fins.There is debate about the nutritious benefits of shark fins as an addition to diet, but China, Japan, and Mexico in particular hold the fins in high regards for their supposed beneficial properties.
Alternative Medicine
Shark fin supplements are available through the Internet.Shark fin contains cartilage that is thought to be a preventive medicine and treatment for cancer.In Mexico, the use of shark fin is widely accepted as an alternative medicine for prostate cancer, with some people theorizing that by eating shark fins, they can cure their cancer because sharks do not have cancer. The idea is that by taking medicines made of shark fins, the person will stop the growth of cancerous tumors, according to the London Prostate Cancer Centre. However, the London Prostate Cancer Centre reports there is no scientific evidence in which to base the health benefits purported for the consumption of shark fins.The Chinese use shark fin as a type of health tonic comparable to the consumption of chicken soup in the United States for common illnesses, as well as for cancer prevention, as reported by the National Geographic News.
An Aphrodisiac
- According to PBS' The Voyage of the Odyssey's article about shark finning, Asian markets are finding an uprising in people who are seeking the powdered shark fin as an aphrodisiac to improve their sexual functioning. While there is no scientific proof that there is any benefit to sexual functioning, the high levels of mercury that are often found in shark meat can actually cause infertility, as stated by the Shark Angels' website.
Shark Fin Soup
- National Geographic News reported that shark fin, or yu chi meaning "fish wing" in Chinese, is the main ingredient in a delicacy that has been consumed in China since 960 A.D. known as shark fin soup. An extremely costly dish, this soup is served for special occasions or to elite members of society. As shark has no true flavor or taste, eating shark fin soup is more of a status symbol than a gastronomic delight. For a bowl of shark fin soup served in the United States, where shark finning is illegal, the cost is anywhere from $70 to $150.(source: eHow)============================================================
- March 4, 2011 • 4:30 pm PST
- 16 responses
This short (just over one minute) video made by The Guardian shows a morning's work at the port of Kesennuma, the home of Japan's shark fishing trade. Warning: The scenes of men hacking the fins off the live sharks and then bulldozing their carcasses out of the way are not for the faint of heart.GOOD has covered a new British campaign against the shocking shark fin trade before. Legislation to ban the sale and import of shark fins in the state of California is also currently the subject of heated debate. Interestingly, SF Weekly reporter Jonathan Kauffman recently sampled shark's fin soup, as part of an article discussing the cultural importance of the dish in Chinese cuisine, and reported that:
(source: GOOD)Despite its price, the soup was no culinary masterpiece. The pork-and-chicken broth lacked complexity and depth, if not cornstarch. But the shark's fin was exquisite: Each filament was silky and jellied, but with a delicately chewy texture. As I sipped the soup, the filaments fluttered against every surface of my mouth, impossible to pinpoint, like walking through the mist halo of a sprinkler and trying to identify where each drop lands on your skin.
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