Shark Soup

Question 1

Where is Shark FIn soup served at weddings?

Answer 1

Hong Kong- although many brides are now saying no to the delicacy

Question 2

It is believed to bring…

Answer 2

health, prosperity, and good fortune

Question 3

How much does it cost?

Answer 3

100$ per bowl because shark fin is worth hundreds of dollars per kilogram

Question 4

Why is the good economy causing issues for the shark fin soup?

Answer 4

many more people can afford the soup meaning the demand has been growing in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand

Question 5

How many sharks are killed annually?

Answer 5

26 to 73 million

Question 6

Why is this a problem?

Answer 6

more sharks are being killed than are being born causing their numbers to drop

Question 7

How many shark species are now threatened or extinct?

Answer 7

1/3 of all species

Question 8

What procedure to make the soup is illegal?

Answer 8

Shark finning

Question 9

Shark finning involves…

Answer 9

using a hot knife to to slice the fins off of live sharks then animals are dumped into the ocean and bleed to death

Question 10

What else can the shark be used for?

Answer 10

shark meat for eating, oil in makeup, dietary supplements- carilage and liver oil, leather into wallets and belts

Question 11

Why do fishermen not keep the whole shark?

Answer 11

the whole shark takes up space and they get more money with just the fins

Question 12

Who is being targeted?

Answer 12

restaurants in Hong Kong that serve the soup

Question 13

What is being done about it?

Answer 13

Europe is moving to ban shark finning, campaigns targeting, banning the soup at banquets

Question 14

In canada…

Answer 14

very little shark fin soup is eaten,

Toronto has passed a law prohibiting it, Vancouver, Calgary, Richmond, and Burnaby are talking about making similar bans

Question 15

Why do some people agree with shark finning?

Answer 15

there are plenty of shark species

• no evidence that it actually happens
• the bans are unfair

Question 16

What did an Ontario Judge do?

Answer 16

overturned the ban on the soup saying that the city did not have the right to make that decision

Question 17

What are the two sides of shark finning?

Answer 17

1) good for business- some people really like shark fin soup
2) time for a cultural shift

Question 18

How many species of sharks are there?

Answer 18

450

Question 19

Do sharks have bones?

Answer 19

no- the have a skeleton made of cartilage

Question 20

What happens when a shark loses a tooth?

Answer 20

another one grows back

Question 21

What do sharks play a critical role in maintaining?

Answer 21

balanced healthy ocean ecosystem