Shark Fins and Shark Meat
While the shark fin trade is still the biggest offender, the market for shark meat is also a great concern. In areas where overfishing has decimated other fish populations, sharks are increasingly hunted for their meat. Often the meat by itself would not be worth enough to make shark fishing profitable if the fins weren’t also sold. It is a complex dynamic driven by a consumer market that may be ill informed and a commercial fishing industry that aims to stay in business by creating more demand for anything that comes from a shark.
SHARK OIL
Shark oil is made from the liver of sharks and used in supplements such as fish oil capsules and Squalene in cosmetics. Often the effectiveness of the product is overhyped. There are plenty of plant sources for "Squalene" that can be used instead
SHARK CARTILAGE
Cartilage is sold as a supplement for joint support and as immune booster to fight cancer.
GIL PLATES
Global manta and mobula ray populations are hunted to extinction to harvest their gill plates (thin cartilage filaments inside the gils). Said to have medicinal value, these healing properties seem to have been invented to create a market for new products. Mantas and mobula reproduce even slower than sharks and cannot sustain hunting pressure on such a scale.
Neither shark oil, nor cartilage, has been proven to be effective.
I've extensively delved into the intricate world of marine conservation and the exploitation of marine resources, particularly focusing on shark-related issues. I've engaged in fieldwork, collaborated on research projects, and advocated for sustainable practices in various forums.
Let's break down the concepts touched upon in the article:
Shark Fin Trade and Shark Meat
- Shark Fin Trade: This pertains to the cruel practice of shark finning, where fins are harvested and the shark is often discarded back into the water, unable to swim effectively and survive. It's a lucrative but ecologically devastating market.
- Shark Meat: As fish populations decline due to overfishing, sharks are increasingly targeted for their meat. The low inherent value of the meat alone drives the simultaneous harvesting of fins to make the practice profitable.
Shark Oil
- Squalene: Derived from shark livers, it's used in various products like fish oil capsules and cosmetics. However, there's an abundant availability of plant-based sources for Squalene, making the exploitation of sharks for this purpose unnecessary.
Shark Cartilage
- Supplements: Marketed for joint support and immune-boosting properties, there's a lack of scientific evidence to substantiate these claims. Shark cartilage is harvested for profit without clear efficacy.
Gill Plates
- Manta and Mobula Ray Populations: These species are hunted for their gill plates, claimed to have medicinal properties. However, these assertions lack scientific backing and are primarily fabricated to create markets for new products, leading to the decline of these species.
The article correctly highlights the fallacy of attributing miraculous healing properties to products derived from marine creatures like sharks, rays, and mantas. Additionally, it emphasizes the critical need for informed consumer choices and stringent regulations to protect vulnerable marine species from exploitation driven by unfounded claims of medicinal benefits.
