«——【Preamble】】 ——»
In the vast sea, there is a creature that can be called a "dinosaur of the sea", and it is the shark.
Sharks are known for their ferocity and aggressiveness, and due to their large size and sharp teeth, they are the ultimate hunters at the top of the marine food chain.
But such a formidable existence is now also reduced to an endangered animal, and they are on the verge of extinction under the hunt of humans.
«——【·Shark·】——»
Sharks are a transcendent source of marine life, dating back more than 400 million years.
It was once regarded as the apex predator of the sea, and at one time it was considered the "overlord of the sea". Their ferocious image has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
As a representative of cartilaginous fishes, their whole body is full of cartilaginous tissue, not even bones, and there is no "swim bladder" that helps float on other fish.
Instead, they have a super-developed liver, which takes up 15%-20% of their body weight, allowing them to float and sink easily even when they are shrouded in seawater. This miraculous liver also provides a constant source of energy, so that sharks do not have to eat as often.
Despite their size, they breathe in a peculiar way. Sharks suck in seawater through the gill cleft on both sides of their body, and then swim around to push their body to flow through the gill bushes in the gill cleft to obtain oxygen.
Once they stop swimming, they become hypoxic and even life-threatening. Therefore, for sharks, those fins that are just like "hands and feet" can be said to be the most important organs in the whole body. Without them, sharks would not be able to soar freely in the sea, but would have to drift and eventually drown.
«——【·珍贵的鱼翅·】——»
But the reason why sharks are hunted by humans is precisely because of their "treasure" - shark fin.
In China, shark fin is regarded as a longevity delicacy and has been an indispensable dish in Manchu and Han banquets since ancient times.
Since the Tang Dynasty, shark fin has been put on the table of nobles as a meal, and it has a history of thousands of years.
Later, due to the words of some so-called nutritionists, the "never sick" characteristics of sharks were associated with the consumption of shark fin, and some people even boasted that shark fin has the miraculous effect of "preventing cancer and prolonging life", which made people fanatically pursue shark fin.
But in reality, shark fin is not as great as you think, it is mainly composed of protein and fat, and the nutritional content is no different from ordinary meat.
More importantly, most of the nutrients of shark fin will be completely broken down by gastric acid after entering the human body, and cannot be directly absorbed by the body.
Shark deep-sea predators may also be in the polluted marine environment for a long time, and their bodies are often enriched with a large number of pollutants such as heavy metals and microplastics, which are likely to cause some harm to the human body after eating.
Therefore, we can completely replace shark fin with other high-protein foods without being so obsessed with this "expensive" ingredient.
Shark fin is the most precious thing for sharks. Sharks rely on shark fins to swim in the sea, hunt for prey, courtship and reproduce, and losing shark fins is equivalent to being deprived of "hands and feet", and they will not be able to survive in the sea.
However, in order to satisfy the appetite of human beings, countless sharks were cut off alive, and the remaining mutilated bodies were thrown back to the sea, waiting for a slow and cruel death.
«——[Nobody cares about shark meat·]——»
So why is shark meat less popular than the favored shark fin?
As large marine predators, sharks eat an astonishing amount of food and need a lot of food to meet their energy needs. In order to effectively use food nutrients, the shark's stomach has evolved a special structure that can hold large amounts of food at once and then slowly digest and use it.
At the same time, the excretory system of sharks is relatively backward and cannot expel the waste products produced by metabolism in a timely manner. As a result, sharks have evolved a special "excretory system" that dissolves waste products such as urine in the blood, which slowly seeps out of the skin and then slowly exudes from the skin.
It is conceivable that over time, the flesh and blood of sharks will gradually enrich with high concentrations of urea and other harmful substances, which will cause the strange smell of shark meat that is difficult to swallow. Coupled with other marine pollutants, shark meat is not only extremely unpalatable, but also potentially harmful to the health of those who eat it.
In addition to this, people do not eat shark meat and it is also related to the body shape of the shark. As a cartilaginous fish, the shark does not have hard bones in its body, and the process of extracting meat is extremely difficult. To make matters worse, the shark was covered in tiny shield scales, and it was a lot of work to clean it up.
Therefore, even if a warrior is willing to eat shark meat, the process will be extremely difficult. In contrast, shark meat has become a relatively easy to obtain "by-product".
Therefore, it has become a common practice to "defin" sharks and discard the meat.
«——【·割鱼翅弃肉·】——»
The so-called "shark fin and meat abandonment" refers to throwing the caught shark onto a fishing boat, cutting off the most valuable part of the shark fin, and then throwing the rest of the shark's body back into the sea.
Cutting off the shark's fins and throwing the badly injured shark back into the sea is tantamount to a very cruel death sentence for these creatures. They will die slowly in intense pain, or be preyed upon by other predators, in a process that is undoubtedly extremely painful.
Hundreds of millions of sharks die every year, and countless of them die because of shark fins......
The act of cutting shark fins is not only cruel, but also a kind of outright destruction of the marine environment.
«——【Destruction of the Environment】——»
First, sharks, as predators at the top of the marine food chain, play a vital role in maintaining marine biodiversity. If shark populations are greatly reduced, it will inevitably upset the balance of marine ecology, causing other marine life populations to spiral out of control, which in turn will affect the entire marine environment.
In addition, sharks are animals with a very low fertility rate, and it generally takes more than ten years to reproduce. The practice of "cutting shark fins and discarding meat" has led to the brutal killing of a large number of sharks during the most fertile period, seriously hindering their normal reproduction and accelerating the decline of shark populations.
In fact, human overfishing of shark resources has pushed many species to the brink of extinction. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are currently more than 100 shark species on Earth that face varying degrees of existential threats, of which 13 are endangered.
Such a distressing situation has attracted widespread attention from animal rights activists around the world. In 2013, sharks were added to the Washington Convention's protected list, which prohibits international trade. Unfortunately, illegal clandestine fishing continues, and the shark habitat has not been fundamentally improved.
Therefore, it is urgent to protect sharks. We should immediately stop "cutting shark fins and discarding meat" and prohibit any form of shark hunting. At the same time, efforts should be made to clean up the marine environment and create a good living space for sharks to thrive safely.
Only in this way can we keep this blue ocean alive, protect the existence of this amazing creature and ultimately benefit humanity as a whole. Let's take action today and cherish this ocean home that gives us life!
«——【·How to Protect·】——»
Faced with the serious challenge of protecting sharks, a variety of measures have been taken to protect sharks and promote sustainable management of the ocean. Internationally, many countries have signed a number of international conventions, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to restrict or prohibit international trade in endangered shark species.
In addition, there are more regional efforts around the world, such as the establishment of marine protected areas to restrict or prohibit shark fishing in these areas, to provide safe habitats for sharks and other marine life, and to restore and protect biodiversity.
At the national level, many coastal countries have begun to implement shark conservation programs, which include, but are not limited to, regulating fishing quotas, banning specific fishing methods, and promoting sustainable practices in the fishing industry.
For example, the United States and Australia have implemented strict shark fishing management measures, while the Philippines and the Maldives have banned shark fishing in their waters altogether.
In addition, scientific research also plays an important role in shark conservation and ocean management. By tagging and tracking sharks, scientists are able to study their migration patterns, breeding behaviors, and habitat use, information that is essential for developing effective conservation measures.
At the same time, the research also helps the public and policymakers understand the importance of sharks to marine health, and increases public awareness of the need to protect marine ecology.
Public education and social awareness are also important aspects of shark conservation. Various media platforms, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions are working to raise public awareness of marine conservation issues.
These efforts include educating about the role of sharks in marine ecosystems, explaining the long-term effects of overfishing on the marine environment, and promoting sustainable seafood alternatives to shark fins.
In addition, the public should be educated to recognize that the consumption of shark fin is not only an environmental issue, but also a matter of animal welfare and bioethics. Educational activities can enhance the impact and impact of information through showcasing brutal images of shark fishing, vivid marine ecological documentaries and interactive educational activities.
Moreover, technology and innovation play an important role in shark conservation. The use of satellite tagging and tracking technology to monitor shark migration paths and population status can provide decision support for scientists and managers. In addition, the development of alternatives to shark fins, such as plant-based or lab-grown seafood, can reduce the need for real shark fins.
Finally, international cooperation is key to solving the global shark problem. Trade in sharks and shark fins often involves multiple countries and regions, requiring the international community to work together to coordinate legislative and enforcement actions and strengthen regulation and cooperation across borders.
Through international conferences, joint research projects and policy dialogues, best practices and best practices are shared to improve conservation outcomes globally.
«——【·Conclusion·】——»
Overall, shark conservation and sustainable ocean management is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary effort that requires the joint engagement and sustained efforts of governments, research institutions, environmental organizations and the public. Only in this way can we ensure the health of marine ecosystems and the future of sharks and other marine life.
Protecting sharks is protecting the planet on which humans depend. Let's look forward to the day when these deep-sea overlords will once again be able to roam the oceans without being treated as a delicacy for people to taste.
Resources:
Is Shark Fin Eating Really Endangered Sharks? China's consumption has dropped by 70%, and the global shark catch has not been less at all-The Paper
Gluttonous China - Why "light and tasteless" shark fin is sought after - The Paper