Shark Hunting: Good or Bad?
Sharks are usually seen as blood thirsty killers that will end anything that moves though this may not be the full picture. Though there have been many shark related incidents in the last few years, scientists are beginning to understand the reasons behind these brutal attacks, the answer to which is much more surprising than one might first expect.
Where the Idea Started
The idea that sharks are blood thirsty killers is mainly due to pieces of popular social media such as TV shows or movies, some such examples are “Jaws, Deep blue sea and The Meg” movies like these have sparked a primal fear in humans originating in our earliest ancestors, as a defensive mechanism to incoming predators helping us survive encounters with vicious beasts in our fledgling years as a species. Though by now we are hardly even part of the food chain this ancient defensive mechanism is still part of us and has never faded even after a few thousand years of leaving our defenseless first years.
Cultures of Shark Meat
A few cultures around the world use Shark meat and shark fin in local recipes, some such countries have used shark meat throughout the years are Iceland, Japan, some parts of India and some parts of Africa and a few others. It is good to note that some countries hunt sharks but do not use them in any local dishes such as Australia where they hunt sharks off the coast but usually don’t eat it and just sell it to a country that does eat sharks such as Japan or India. Another place that is famous for shark hunting is the coastal village of Kesennuma sitting on the north east pacific coast of Japan, this town is famous for it’s watery goods ranging from octopus and squids to crabs, flounder and bonito and the ever controversial shark fin used for Japan's infamous Shark Fin soup. This seemingly normal dish has sparked an incredible amount of arguments and political disputes ranging from policing of the subject to an all out ban on hunting sharks or the use of its meat.
Illegal Goods
Shark fin has been a controversial topic for a long time now, some countries cherish it for its unique flavor and viewed it as a rare delicacy though in some countries it is even gone so far as to all out ban it from the country and anyone found to be in possession of the substance will be given a large fine or even sometimes jail time. The reason Shark Fin is considered illegal in most counties is because of the way it is obtained, the process includes cutting the fin from a live shark which is obviously incredibly painful and unjust for the shark which is then just dumped back into the ocean to rot and decay. This process has been banned in almost every country and though shark fin can still be found on a few menus around the world including thailand and india it has mostly been removed from the planet’s dining list.
Conclusion
I believe that shark hunting shouldn’t be banned entirely as it would be cruel and unfair to the cultures such as India who have used this dish for centuries, though I can’t deny that shark finning and over hunting of sharks is devastating to the environment so in conclusion I believe that it shouldn’t be all out banned but it should be regulated.
