Shark fin soup

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Shark fin soup
Shark fin soup
Traditional Chinese魚翅
Simplified Chinese鱼翅
Jyutpingjyu4 ci3
Hanyu Pinyinyú chì
Literal meaningFish fin
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agent counting confiscated shark fins

Shark fin soup (or shark's fin soup) is a Chinese soup that has been a popular item of Chinese cuisine since the Ming Dynasty,[1] usually served at special occasions such as weddings and banquets,[2][3] or as a luxury item in Chinese culture.[3]

There is controversy over the practice of shark finning which is used to source the signature ingredient for the soup. Consumption of shark fin soup has risen dramatically with the middle class becoming more affluent.[4] Animal rights activists and environmentalists[5] have called the practice brutal,[3] and it is also named as a primary contributing factor in the global decline of many shark species.[6]

China's growing economy has resulted in a large increase in demand for shark fins.[2] This increase in demand combined with the importance of this top predator in the ocean, has the potential to significantly alter oceanic ecosystems.[7]

Preparation

Genuine shark fin soup or stew is made with shark fins obtained from any of a variety of shark species. Raw shark fins are processed by first removing the skin, trimming them to shape, and thoroughly drying them. Hydrogen peroxide may be used[8] before drying to make their colour more appealing[citation needed].

Shark fins are the cartilaginous pectoral and dorsal fins of a shark. Sharks' fins are sold in two forms: frozen and dried. Both need to be softened before they can be used to prepare soup. The frozen form is ready to use as it has been prepared and therefore only requires about an hour or two of soaking[citation needed].

There are two types of the dried form, skinned (shredded) and whole, which require more preparation.[9]

Imitation

There is an imitation version that is usually sold in cans that may be labelled as shark fin soup[citation needed]; it sells for around USD$1.50 per bowl and does not contain shark fins, but is instead made of mung bean vermicelli shaped to resemble shark fins.[10] It is not equivalent to genuine shark fin soup in either texture or color[citation needed] and is commonly served in chicken broth, with mushrooms and pork to enhance the texture and flavor.

Nutritional value and health issues

Shark fin is incorrectly perceived by some as having high nutritional value and cancer fighting abilities.

Vitamin content of typical shark fin soup is much less than that of typical vegetable soup. It is commonly perceived that shark fin soup is rich in Vitamin A, but in fact it contains almost no Vitamin A at all. Mineral content is also less than that of typical vegetable soup.[11][12]

There are apparently false claims that shark fins prevent cancer[13] and treat osteoarthritis.[14] No scientific proof supports these claims; at least one study has shown shark cartilage of no value in cancer treatment.[15]

If consumed in extremely large quantities, shark fin soup may cause sterility in men due to mercury content.[16]

Because of its high mercury level, the FDA recommends pregnant women and young children avoid eating shark fins.[17]

Shark fins, in common with other costly east Asian delicacies such as Bird's nest soup and sea cucumber, have very little flavor of their own.[9] Their appeal lies more in their texture and their ability to absorb flavors from other soup ingredients and also for the simple fact of their expense and supposed "rarity", as with many luxury goods.[18]

Market

Shark fins and other shark parts for sale in a Chinese pharmacy
Shark fins stew

Shark fin soup is a popular delicacy in China, and is eaten in Chinese restaurants around the world.[19][20]

A survey carried out in China in 2006 by WildAid and the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association found that 35% of participants said they had consumed shark fin soup in the last year,[19] while 83% of participants in an online survey conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature, said that they had consumed shark fin soup at some time.[21]

In Hong Kong restaurants, where the market has traditionally been strong, demand from Hong Kong natives has reportedly dropped, but this has been more than balanced by an increase in demand from the Chinese mainland,[22] as the economic growth of China has put this expensive delicacy within the reach of a growing middle class.[23]

Based on information gathered from the Hong Kong trade in fins, the market is estimated to be growing by 5% a year.[24] The high price of the soup means that is often used as a way to impress guests or at celebrations,[22] 58% of those questioned in the WWF survey said they ate the soup at a celebration or gathering.[21]

While fins from many shark species are utilized in the trade, certain shark species have been identified over the centuries as supplying the tastiest and most succulent fins. The shark-like rays (the shovelnose rays and sawfishes) are known to supply the highest quality fin—the "caviar" of shark fin[citation needed]. As observed by one of the leading treatises[which?] on shark trade, "[fins] from the white-spotted guitarfish [Rhynchobatus spp.] are considered to be most valuable[citation needed]. The preferred shark species for fins are Tiger, Mako, Sawfish, Sandbar, Bull, Hammerhead, Blacktip, Porbeagle, Blue and Thresher sharks."[25]

Fins from the critically endangered sawfishes (family Pristidae) "are highly favored in Asian markets and are some of the most valuable shark fins."[26] Sawfishes are now protected under the highest protection level of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Appendix I ,[27] but given the great volume of the shark fin trade, and as detached shark fins are difficult to identify, it is unlikely that CITES protection will prevent highly valued sawfish fins from entering the trade[citation needed].

A third of all fins imported to Hong Kong come from Europe.[28] Spain is by far the largest supplier, providing between 2000 and 5000 metric tonnes a year.[29][30] Norway supplies 39 metric tonnes, but Britain, France, Portugal and Italy are also major suppliers.[31]

Hong Kong handles at least 50% and possibly up to 80% of the world trade in shark fin, with the major suppliers being Europe, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United States, Yemen, India, Japan, and Mexico.[32]

Sustainability

See also: Shark finning

Over 100 million sharks are killed every year, a portion of which due to the demand for shark fin soup.[33] Major declines in shark populations have been recorded in recent years—some species have been depleted by over 90% over the past 20–30 years with a population decline of 70% not being unusual.[34] Only a small amount of the shark is actually kept. This is done in a process called finning where the fins of the shark is cut from living sharks.[35] After the fins have been cut off, the remainder of the fish which is often still-living, is thrown back into the sea.[35] When returned to the ocean, the finless shark is unable to swim and sinks to the ocean bottom and dies a slow death.[36]

The 2007 documentary Sharkwater[37] exposes the abuse in shark-finning industry and the damage it is causing to the ocean's ecosystems. It also uncovers government corruption supporting the industry.

According to a 2010's BBC report (Asia demand 'spurs Brazilian shark kills'), demand for shark fin soup in Asia has been blamed for the illegal killing of nearly 300,000 sharks off Brazil since 2009.

References

  1. ^ {{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,100660,00.html?iid=fb_share |title=Man Bites Shark |publisher=TIME |author=Maryyann Bird|date=Monday, Feb. 26, 2001}}
  2. ^ a b Keith Bradsher, Disneyland in China Offers a Soup and Lands in a Stew, June 17, 2005 The New York Times
  3. ^ a b c Caroline Li, Lobster replaces shark's fin at Disney, The Standard, July 16, 2005
  4. ^ "Shark fin soup alters an ecosystem - CNN.com". CNN. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  5. ^ http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GE23Aa01.html
  6. ^ "Waiter, there's a shark fin in my soup!". Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  7. ^ Nicholas Bakalar (2006-10-12). "38 Million Sharks Killed for Fins Annually, Experts Estimate". National Geographic. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  8. ^ http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/11/29/2003390435
  9. ^ a b "Shark's Fin in Chinese Cooking". chinesefood-recipes.com. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  10. ^ Matt Clarke, Scientists investigate market in shark fins, Feb 20, 2006, The Practical Fishkeeping
  11. ^ http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/soups-sauces-and-gravies/1115/2
  12. ^ http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/soups-sauces-and-gravies/1026/2
  13. ^ "Alternative approaches to prostate cancer treatment". Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  14. ^ Pollack, Andrew (3 June 2007). "Shark Cartilage, Not a Cancer Therapy". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  15. ^ The results of a study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, and led by Dr. Charles Lu of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on June 2, 2007 in Chicago. Cancer patients treated with extracts from shark cartilage had a shorter median lifespan than patients receiving a placebo. "Shark fin won't help fight cancer, but ginseng will". Retrieved 2008-06-23. [dead link]
  16. ^ "Watch out for shark fin soup". China Daily. Retrieved 21 May 2005.
  17. ^ "Beware of shark meat, FDA warns". CNN. 26 April 1996. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  18. ^ Ken Hom (2005-06-09). "A shark's tale". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2006.
  19. ^ a b Laura Marquez (2006-10-30). "Decimating Shark Population for Some Soup". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  20. ^ Karliah Brown (2009-09-). "Fins for sale". London: The Independent. Retrieved 8 January 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ a b "WWF Marine Awareness Survey: Seafood consumption" (PDF). WWF. 2005-10-13. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  22. ^ a b "Yao Ming unlikely to curb China's shark fin appetite". Taipei Times. 2006-05-03. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  23. ^ "Media silent on shark fin soup affair". The Standard. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  24. ^ Julie Chao (2004-05-19). "Chinese Taste For Endangered Seafood Growing". Cox News Service. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  25. ^ Vannuccini, S. 1999/ Shark utilization, marketing and trade. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 389. Rome, FAO. http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/X3690E/x3690e0p.htm, retrieved March 17, 2009.
  26. ^ Recovery Plan for Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata). National Marine Fisheries Service. 2009, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/smalltoothsawfish.pdf Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  27. ^ Richard Black. 2007. "Sawfish protection acquires teeth." BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6740609.stm Retrieved March 19, 2009. -
  28. ^ "Shark fisheries and trade in Europe". Shark Alliance. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  29. ^ "EU faces shark fin ban call". BBC. 2001-06-25. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  30. ^ Ian Sample (2006-08-31). "Sharks pay high price as demand for fins soars". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  31. ^ Steve Connor (2006-08-31). "Growth in shark fin trade could lead to species extinction". London: The Independent. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  32. ^ Sarah Fowler and Dr John A Musick (2006-06-02). "Shark Specialist Group Finning Statement" (PDF). IUCN Shark Specialist Group. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  33. ^ http://www.wildaid.org/index.asp?CID=8&PID=331&SUBID=&TERID=16
  34. ^ Pratt, H. L. Jr.; Gruber, S. H. & Taniuchi, T. (1990). Elasmobranchs as living resources: Advances in the biology, ecology, systematics, and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Tech Rept. (90).
  35. ^ a b "Sharks". WildAid. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  36. ^ Berman, Ruth (2009). Sharks (Revised ed.). Lerner Publications. p. 37. ISBN 0761342435.
  37. ^ "Shark Water". Shark Water. Retrieved 5 Feb 2009.

Further reading

  • Baum J.K., Myers R.A., Kehler D.G., Worm B., Harley S.J., Doherty P.A. (2003) — Collapse and Conservation of Shark Populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Science, 5605: 389–392.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shark_fin_soup&oldid=388303708"