Last week The Yum List published our goals for 2013. One of which was to be better ambassadors for sustainable living by not accepting requests for reviews from restaurants that have shark’s fin on their menus. Kenny Peavy, environmental consultant, explains why this is such an important choice.
Shark’s Fin Soup
Shark’s Fin Soup
By Kenny Peavy
Shark’s fin soup is a popular dish on many Chinese
restaurant menus. However, the
consumption of shark’s fin is environmentally unsustainable and ethically
irresponsible. Here is why:
restaurant menus. However, the
consumption of shark’s fin is environmentally unsustainable and ethically
irresponsible. Here is why:
To make shark’s fin soup, fishermen catch sharks and cut off
their fins. They throw the rest of the
shark back into the ocean because the meat of the shark is considered less
valuable and not worth keeping. The
sharks are often still alive and left to slowly drown because without their
fins they can no longer swim!
their fins. They throw the rest of the
shark back into the ocean because the meat of the shark is considered less
valuable and not worth keeping. The
sharks are often still alive and left to slowly drown because without their
fins they can no longer swim!
Fisherman harvesting shark fins don’t discriminate on age or
size. They take the fins of every shark
regardless of age or size. This happens
to nearly 100 million sharks every year.
size. They take the fins of every shark
regardless of age or size. This happens
to nearly 100 million sharks every year.
Not only is this cruel, it is also unsustainable and harmful
to the planet! Sharks are a very
important part of the marine ecosystem. They are top predators and keep the ocean’s ecosystems in a healthy
balance by keeping other fish populations in control. This disrupts the delicate web of life and
affects all other species in our oceans.
to the planet! Sharks are a very
important part of the marine ecosystem. They are top predators and keep the ocean’s ecosystems in a healthy
balance by keeping other fish populations in control. This disrupts the delicate web of life and
affects all other species in our oceans.
We all have a choice and we all can make a difference. Our daily choices of the food we eat have a
profound effect on our environment. Choose wise. Choose to say NO to
shark’s fin soup.
profound effect on our environment. Choose wise. Choose to say NO to
shark’s fin soup.
Kenny Peavy is The Yum List’s official environmental consultant. For more information on what we can do to make the world we live in a better place, visit his site at:
Even the not so sweet tongued Gordon Ramsay finds the practice of shark’s finning vile.
* This video was shared with me by a friend who found this post by Adam Mordecai:
Gordon Ramsay’s full length version can be found here. (Preview before watching in front of children as Gordon uses his usual barrage of, what some call, coarse language.)
The Yum List says NO to shark’s fin soup.
** Additional note: Turns out this new year’s resolution is causing quite a stir amongst those in the industry and fellow food bloggers. It has also become apparent that the choice in which restaurants to review is not as clear cut as I thought it would be. Some restaurants have told me that they don’t sell shark’s fin full stop. Others have said that it’s not on the menu, but will be sold if a customer requests it. Others have a firm policy that it will not be sold at anytime and yet others have told me that they don’t have it on the menu, but clients have said that it is available upon request. So…
… without playing detective and doing undercover investigation to find out if hotels/ restaurants indeed will or won’t sell shark’s fin, I’ve decided to base decisions on whether or not it’s on the printed menu. The point of this new year’s resolution is not to be punitive but rather raise awareness and increase education surrounding the issue so that both sides, clients and businesses, can make better informed decisions especially in regards to how their food choices impact the environment (and their children’s future!). Seems the goal is being achieved as there is a lot of conversation (more than I expected!) around our decision.
Would love to read your feedback!