Shark’s fin soup: cultural tradition or barbaric practice?

Recently, the California State Assembly voted to ban the sale and consumption of shark’s fin. Although the ban would not take place until 2013, it is the topic of much debate in the Asian American community.

When I first heard about this, I was completely against a ban. But I was admittedly only thinking with my stomach. I have to confess that I do not like to think about what I am eating, much less how something is killed. This mentality is prevalent in many Asian cultures, although traditional Buddhists and Hindus do not eat meat. With the exception of those who abstain from the consumption of animals for religious reasons, the mentality seems to be, “Why worry yourself thinking about what cannot be changed when something tastes so good?”

It is estimated that approximately 73 million sharks a year are killed for their fins. Actually, what often happens is that the fins of a shark are sliced off and the shark is thrown back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark sinks and dies a slow and excruciating death. Nonetheless, 73 million is a staggering number. If current killing and consumption rates keep up it is a very real possibility that certain species of sharks, including the ever-popular tiger and mako shark, could become extinct.

Shark’s fin is an inherent part of Asian culture, Chinese culture in particular. There is a thriving market for shark’s fin in California, particularly in the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, which boast the highest Chinese populations in the state.

Shark’s fin soup is supposedly extremely nutritious. It actually is more like clear noodles in texture. It is somewhat crunchy, chewy, and rubbery. The broth, which is often flavored by ham, chicken, or mushrooms, gives it its flavor. At approximately $500 a pound, it is definitely not cheap.

Shark’s fin is an indication of status and wealth and it is often served at life occasions such as weddings and important birthdays. In fact, in traditional Chinese culture, you would lose face if you did not serve shark’s fin soup at a large wedding reception. It is not uncommon for the host of a dinner to treat their family or a group of friends to a hot bowl of shark’s fin soup.

Not consuming your bowl of shark’s fin soup is considered to be extremely bad manners. I actually remember being at a Chinese wedding banquet at the age of four, and having my father scold me for not finishing the precious shark’s fin soup. The basic mentality is that if someone thinks enough of you to buy you a bowl of shark’s fin soup that you should show respect by eating it.

Because millions of sharks have their fins sliced off and die as a result, a movement has started to ban the sale and consumption of shark’s fin in the United States. Environmentalists and animal rights activists argue that unless the sale and consumption of shark’s fin are banned that sharks will soon become extinct.  Already, the states of Hawaii and Washington have banned shark’s fin. It is inevitable that other states will follow through.

However, many Asian Americans, who were raised eating shark’s fin and understand the cultural importance, decry the move to ban shark’s fin as cultural discrimination. Some legislators, such as Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), think that perhaps there is a way that both sides can be appeased. Senator Yee believes that perhaps it is prudent to ban internationally imported shark’s fin but to make it legal to sell and consume shark’s fin that is caught by legally licensed fisherman in the United States. The reality, however, is that this would do very little to preserve the world’s shark population.

While I do like a good bowl of shark’s fin soup, I understand the fact that ripping the fins off a shark or killing it for its fins is a cruel custom. I don’t believe you can push a cart sideways. You must either push it straight forward or stop it altogether. Traditional Chinese are not going to give up their cultural customs and they are likely not going to stop eating shark’s fin. Sharks will not be prevented from becoming extinct unless it becomes illegal to sell or consume shark’s fin.

If a whole country stopped consuming shark’s fin, it would make a larger dent. The United States consumes the largest amount of shark’s fin outside of Asia. California consumes the most shark’s fin of all states. So the sale and consumption of shark’s fin either needs to be banned altogether across the United States or it should continue. A half hearted effort to ban shark’s fin in one state will not be enough to prevent sharks from becoming extinct.

As the debate goes on in the state of California and across the United States, one thing is for certain. There is no way to strike a happy balance that will preserve the cultural tradition of consuming shark's fin  and also preserve the world’s shark population. One will have to be sacrificed. For now, it seems, Asian Americans in the state of California will need to find another status and wealth symbol to serve at traditional Chinese weddings.

Jacqueline Cheung is an Elk Grove resident and the Executive Director of Go Jade Solutions.