Gary Stokes, director of the Southeast Asian branch of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has live in Hong Kong for 26 years. He fights in particular against the trafficking of shark fins, something particularly popular in Asian cuisine, reports The Dodo.
Source: Gary Stokes
The fins are taken from live sharks, who are then thrown back into the sea to agonize in atrocious suffering. Joanna Grossman, counselor for theAnimal Welfare Institute, explained:
The animals eventually bleed out and succumb to their injuries, or die from starvation, suffocation, or predation. It's difficult to say exactly how long a shark will remain alive after being finned. For some animals, a slow and painful death awaits while struggling to breathe at the bottom of the ocean; others might be attacked and eaten fairly quickly after being tossed overboard.
Source: Gary Stokes
The Chinese, particularly big fans of shark fin, consider it to have therapeutic value, without any scientific backing. The industry has a lot of weight and high economic stakes. A bowl of shark fin soup can cost up to 100 dollars.
Source: Gary Stokes
Gary Stokes also confided:
In the last three weeks alone I've seen three 45-foot containers full of shark fins. One from Indonesia; the other two were both from the United Arab Emirates. When we look at 45-foot containers, we're talking millions of sharks.
Source: Gary Stokes
73 million sharks are killed every year, and the populations are declining. The animals don't reproduce quickly enough to counterbalance the massacrethat they have been facing.Most of the animals enter China through Hong Kong, explained Gary. He made a sobering discovery on the roof of a building, where he found more than 100,000 shark fins stored in broad daylight. Gary specified however that China isn't the only one responsible:
If a country has an ocean, it will most likely be contributing to the shark fin trade.
Source: Gary Stokes
Europe represents 15% of fin exportation to China, but it's impossible to know if the fin was taken from an animal who is alive or dead, which makes regulations difficult. Especially since sharks aren't classified as a threatened species and therefore don't benefit from those protections: only the sale of shark meat is regulated, so it is not illegal to hunt the animals. However, certain species of shark like the hammerhead shark and white head shark are more and more vulnerable.
Source: Gary Stokes
Gary Stokes isn't losing hope though. The consumption of shark fin soup is declining, and more young people are straying from it little by little.
Source: Gary Stokes
You can make your voice hear by signing this petition or by making a donation to theSea Shepherd Conservation Society, which is actively fighting for the protection of oceanfauna and flora.
Source: Gary Stokes
H/t: The Dodo
* * *
At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!
.png)
