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Sharks in Serious Danger
jd writes "According to the BBC, shark populations in the Atlantic declined on average 75% (the hammerhead faring worst at 86% loss) in the past 15 years. This ain't trivial. Many sharks produce one pup a year, if that, and less than half of those survive to adulthood. Sharks are essential to the health of the oceans, so this is not a trivial concern. They're mostly in decline because some idiots like to cut off the dorsal fin, to make soup. (You kill a lot of sharks, and get gristle stew as a reward.) Others die because of paranoia, and yet more because of psychotic trophy hunters. If sharks do die out, they will be the longest-lived species that humanity has exterminated. (Who needs Daleks? We're doing just fine on our own... :()"
Shark populations may be declining, but it isn't a result of the reasons stated in the article.
First off, it is important to note that sharks are DANGEROUS. Sharks have been known to attack humans without provocation. In recent years their shenanigans have included encroaching upon swimming areas of popular beaches. In the year 2002 their were an unprecedented amount of shark attacks. These attacks are a direct result of sharks, which are dangerous and unpredictable. A benefit of lower shark populations is decreased shark attack incidents.
Second, shark fin soup is absolutely delicious and the consumption of which should be encouraged not discouraged. Shark fins are not gristle as the article poster just blithely mentioned. It is primarily collagen which becomes gelatinous and tasty in soup or stir fry. Another thing to note is that species that turn out to be tasty also turn out to increase in population in the long run. Their are millions more cattle now than one thousand years ago. The same goes for chickens and pigs and turkeys and other meat animals. Harvesting sharks for food can only lead to increased populations.
That of course is a dilemma, but one that can be worked around by FARMING sharks. This way sharks can increase in population and feed hungry people without becoming a hazard to swimmers, surfers, and other innocent humans.
I have been pwned because my
It was Number 2, dammit. RESPECT NUMBER 2!
"Moderate drinking can help prevent amputated limbs" -- Abigail Zuger, NYTimes, 12/31/02
so we're idiots if we want to make shark fin soup.
so wtf are you when you eat cows (holy animal) pigs (holy animal) or cut down our air making trees for paper?
racist fuck