Controversial Shark Fin Soup Still Served Up

Sharks may attack us humans, especially during slow news summers, but does that make it okay for us to slaughter them? Many chefs don't dare serve up shark fin soup due to its controversial nature, but Animal Tourism says there are plenty of places in the city with the dish—considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine— on their menus.

First off, sharks only kill around 10 people every year in comparison to the 100 million sharks we kill. CNN reported in the past that "the fate of the shark is grim. Increasing public awareness of the shark's role in the marine ecosystem and the rapid rate of extinction because of the demand for shark fin soup may be the best hope for the shark, which has inhabited the planet for 400 million years." In fact, some shark species have depleted by 80% in the past couple of decades (including hammerheads and great whites).

The act of finning is cruel—the fins are chopped off from live sharks, who are then tossed back into the water to die—yet there are still at least 56 restaurants in the city serving up shark fin soup (and even 3 vegetarian ones with mock fin!), according to Animal Tourism's online research. They say "the biggest hunk—20—are in Chinatown. But they're all over the city, not just in restaurants only frequented by Chinese diners. Shanghai, near Macy's, serves five versions ranging from $33-$41. The Upper East Side's Our Place has a bowl for $12. In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, East Harbor Seafood Palace features a whole shark-fin soup category on its menu, with options from $55-$75." Recently, renowned chef Alice Waters had to revisit her love of shark fin soup, after catching some flak.

After the jump, National Geographic takes a look at finning, and it's even further explored in the documentary Sharkwater.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Food on August 24, 2009 2:45 PM

Comments [rss]

Nathan

Just wanted to let readers know about a new resource center that we've set up to further the education of shark finning worldwide. Have a look at:

http://www.sensoryescapeimages.com/what-is-shark-finning/

Drop us a note if you get a chance!

Nathan Ciurzynski

www.SensoryEscapeImages.com

Dead Himmler

Timing FAIL

Potty Boy

It would appear to be a very brutal practice. But, how is it any different from dangling a metal hook in the water, getting a fish caught with its mouth on it, and yanking it out of the water, tossing it on a heap, then finally butchering it with a cleaver. And no critic here has ever had a piece of fish fillet?

And easterners and westerners have different, even diametrically opposed, value systems. Westerners treat animals like people. Easterners treat animals like animals. If you can kill and eat one type, why not another? Because it's cute and cuddly?

WorksInDUMBO

I'm so glad I didn't post in this thread. ... oh wait... D'OH!

Kojak

Shark fin soup served with Foie Gras and Baby Seal meat make for an EXCELLENT dish.

Amanda Harletsch

what an incredible reunion of beligerant asholes that find in this soup a perfect excuse for egomanical expression. This sopu makes your ass bigger and your brain smaller, but who cares if allows the beligerant asholes to make a point: ï beligerant ashole wipe my ass with all creatures, for, I can!

smart!

NannyState

Right now in Chinatown, members of the alleged puppy kicking band Surefire are polishing off their bowls of hot, silky shark fin soup. Discuss.

rasputinsghost

I dunno man Felix totally linked me to some tinfoil hat racist conspiracy nonsense and now he's the one accusing us of having no life while he just posts endlessly

Better can the Nobble Prise Comiteetee, it am won!

felixthecat2

wtf?? it is not racist to say a group of people are smarter. it is racist to say it is based on genetics and not on societal elements. Also I never said China is all of Asia but Chinese are Asians but not all Asians are Chinese. Simple LSAT logic. Anyhow, read the link because you are tiresome now. I already retracted my remark since JCBra is Jewish and Dumb and prove my premise wrong. Can you move on now? Life is calling.

http://www.neoeugenics.net/lev.htm

valeriob

You wrote this exact thing on (150) and (163) here:

http://gothamist.com/2009/08/24/shark_fin_soup.php#comment-2320159

and here:

http://gothamist.com/2009/08/24/shark_fin_soup.php#comment-2320350

valeriob

You wrote this exact thing on (150) here:

http://gothamist.com/2009/08/24/shark_fin_soup.php#comment-2320159

Bort

So let me get this straight. I say a couple bad things about Jen Chung's proofreading (which she even admits is not her strongest skill!) and get banned, and yet this Felixthecat2 idiot posts 30+ posts a day of utter nonsense and it's AOK?

valeriob

Please see link below for your answer.

http://gothamistllc.com/mediakit/specs_rates.php

WesleySnipesAlot

trolls trolling trolls trolling trolls who are unaware that they are trolling trolls who think they can't be trolled.

felixthecat2

Oh the irony is so delightful.

valeriob

THAT IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF IRONY.

themsthebreaks

BUT the irony! it's delicious! I LOVE THE IRONY nomnomnom

FTC2 is obviously an idiot with good intentions, but a monster force of douchebaggery nonetheless. The diet of a country/society has very little to do with intelligence, race, or the level of sophistication in that society...like someone else said, what do you think Hindus think about the fact that we eat 25 million cattle in the US every year (some numbers, just for you! http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/bi/emergingmarketcondition_files/1beefcat.pdf , top of page 13!)

It's not the fact that sharks are hunted that is bad, it's that they are overfished and much of it is wasted, which has less to do with chinese culture than with the practices of fisherman of any color.

I call the next Noble Price! It's mine!

+18 for valeriob

felixthecat2

Your the idiot since you don't understand ignorance and cruelty go hand in hand.

Dead Himmler

Do you even work? You are always on this site. If you even have a boss they should fire right now for being lazy and not working enough.

felixthecat2

I start work at 6am since London is 5 hours ahead. Today was crazy news day. I didn't make any bogus worker comp claim as you so I have to work everyday.