Student Article
The Dangers of Shark Finning: Why It’s Harmful to Sharks and the Oceans
Fin (noun): A body part on some animals, like fish or sharks, used for swimming.
Ecosystem (noun): A community of living things in one place, like an ocean or forest.
Demand (noun): The need or desire for something, like shark fins for soup.
Extinct (adjective): No longer existing.
Shark finning is a dangerous practice that harms sharks and the ocean.
What is shark finning?
Sharks are amazing animals that live in the ocean, but some people harm them just to take their fins. Shark finning is when fishermen cut off a shark’s fins while the shark is still alive. After that, they throw the rest of the shark back into the water, where it dies.
Why do people want shark fins?
The fins are used to make shark fin soup, a dish popular in some countries like China. This soup has been around for a long time, but today it is harming sharks. Many people believe eating it shows wealth or importance, but this practice is killing millions of sharks every year.
Why sharks matter
Sharks are important to the ocean because they help keep the balance of all ocean animals. Without sharks, the whole ocean ecosystem could change. Right now, the demand for shark fin soup is very high, especially in China. Every year, more than 73 million sharks are killed for their fins. This puts many shark species in danger of becoming extinct.
What’s being done to help?
The good news is that people are starting to care more about sharks. Some governments are making rules to stop shark finning, and more people are saying no to eating shark fin soup.
© Mark Carwardine / Our Media
Fin (noun): A body part on some animals, like fish or sharks, used for swimming.
Ecosystem (noun): A community of living things in one place, like an ocean or forest.
Demand (noun): The need or desire for something, like shark fins for soup.
Extinct (adjective): No longer existing.