Hidden Cost of Shark Fin Soup 
NY Times covers shark fishing in Manta
Categories: News, Environment [home]Author: Eric Cheng ( echeng )
Related Link: NYTimes Article
Shark finning articles are becoming more mainstream. The NY Times has an article about shark fishing in Manta, Ecuador, a location I have been to and documented as well. It’s a well-written article, but I find it strange that it focuses on a place where the entire shark is actually used. In a large market area on the beach itself, virtually every piece of the sharks pulled up are sold to locals as inexpensive meat. Where are the mainstream articles that document shark-finning proper, where the live carcasses are discarded?
By the way, I think it’s funny that the article talked about Jackie Chan. While I was down there, a bunch of kids kept running up to me and chanting, “Jackie Chan! Jackie Chan!” I wanted to show them a bit of my own Jackie Chan, but their blood-smeared, knife-toting fathers were just around the corner.
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Comment(s):Eric -
I was sent the article by a buddy of mine who works for Conservation International in DC. The photo credit is Carlos Villalon - the same professor from University of Guayaquil who was our guide on the SRI expedition to Manta. I had almost forgotten that Jackie Chan comment. That still ranks up there as one of the most stomach-churning experiences in my life. It was amazing to go on from there to the Galapagos - what a difference from dead on the beach to majestic in the water...Glad to see the story is out there in the world but I agree with you - artisanal fishing isnt the real problem here - its the major commercial boats that cause most of the overharvesting damage…
cheers…
- MP
Posted by shark8matt on 01/05 at 06:32 PMEric - Did I ever send you a copy of the SRI report I wrote for the Manta expedition? If not I can drop you an email if you would like to see it…
cheers!
- MP
Posted by shark8matt on 01/05 at 06:44 PMGood post Eric, at least the article did mention what is driving the fin trade - money. At $200kg, one can easily understand the motivation.
Now, how do we cut demand, for all endangered animals?
Posted by Scubaskeeter on 01/07 at 10:27 AM
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