Lovers of shark's fin soup, rejoice. There's no reason to be ashamed the next time you order a bowl of shark's fin soup in the restaurant, or digging into a bowl at a wedding dinner. Why, it transpires that reports about sharks being in danger of becoming extinct are all crap. In truth, only three species of sharks, namely, the basking shark, the great white shark and the whale shark are considered endangered under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES). The remaining 397 shark species are not classified at all and can be freely caught and traded (and be eaten without guilt, I must add). Saying that all sharks are endangered is as good (or as bad) as saying all primates (which incidentally comprises Victor, you, me, and Ah Meng at our zoo) are on the verge of extinction.
The animal activists sure know how to make man feel guilty in the consumption of our much-loved and traditional delicacy. They have done us a great disservice by repeatedly painting a distorted picture of how sharks are being killed and their fins extracted. Yes, there can be no denial of the cruelty some fishermen resort to in getting hold of the prized shark fins. These deplorable fishermen cut the fins off the shark and leave the poor creatures to die a slow death at the bottom of the ocean (called “live-finning”). The fact is, many in the fishing industry frowned on such practice, preferring to remove the fins from the sharks only after the death of the creatures. The barbaric practice of "live-finning" is outlawed in many countries.
The anti-fins group has misrepresented the facts by flooding the mass media with images of "live-finning". Their aim? They want shark's fin soup to be shunned. And to discard the tradition of consumption of the shark' fins, a Chinese culture, to the wind. Boy, have we been fooled for too long.
Having said this, I'd like to add that I'm not a great fan of shark's fin soup. But many of my friends and relatives are. My mum makes fabulous shark's fin soup. My son is a sucker for it. And so is the Slim Lady. In addition, a wedding dinner without the usual bowl of shark’s fin soup somehow just doesn't feel like a wedding dinner at all leh ....
Category: Musings
10 comments:
Hey that's a very nice picture. Did u do some photo editing to make the shark grin?
How about asking your colleague to teach u how to cook and then post a photo of the suan pan zi?
Don't kid yourself, Chris. You choose to believe which report is true depending on your own preference for that overpriced and overprized bowl of sharks fin soup.
The truth is that sharks, like humans, only give birth to one live shark or lay one eggcase each every 3 years or so. But we are killing them much faster than they could reproduce themselves.
It is ignorant and indifferent people like you who are undoing the hard work of local shark activists like Victor Wu..
I quote a relevant extract from the above link dated 4 Nov 2004 to try to change your mind about eating sharks fin soup:
"Over 120 species of sharks are currently listed on IUCN World Conservation Trust's Red List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife. The most urgent threat facing shark is shark-finning--the removal of shark fins and discarding of the shark bodies so that they die a slow, painful death. Shark fin soup was once an expensive luxury for the privileged few in southern China, but now it is mass-produced and has become routine at weddings, banquets and business dinners for millions of people around the world. Demand for shark fin soup in Asia in general is devastating shark populations. And Singapore in particular is one of the world's biggest consumers of shark fins."
If sharks are not rare and endangered, why are they still so expensive? Spare a thought for your own pocket, even if you have none for the sharks.
Meanwhile, when you are in Australia next week, do keep clear of the beaches - you never know when the sharks will take their revenge.
If sharks are not rare and endangered, why are they still so expensive?
Your reasoning is flawed. By the same token, why is bird's next so expensive? Are they rare as well? No. So just because someting is expensive, it doesn't mean that it's in danger of being extinct.
Oh pleazzz Victor, gimme a break. That article you quoted is more than 2 years old. Sharks, other than the 3 I quoted in my post are not in danger of extinction. The experts say so.
Dun worry. If I have a Shark Attack at Down Under, I could very well end up on your shark's fin soup the next time you attend a weddnig dinner lor ... Taste me. I'm delicioius. LOL.
There is an unwritten code of moral even in eating animals. Shark being a fish, rightfully can be eaten, provided that species are not going to be extinct. The gist of the problem lies in people catching sharks, cut of their fins, and throw them back into the ocean, leaving them to die a painful death. This reflects the cruelty of some human beings.
I understand that shark's fin and bird's nest is by itself tasteless. Their tastes are derived for the ingredients used in cooking them. I am not a fan of both of these dishes... but if it is there, I will indulge in it without feeling guilty.
Chris, I still waiting for your ans.
Oops sorry Chun See.. I was distracted by Victor lor. Always so argumentative one...
No lah, I didn't do any photo editing. But it's not that difficult to do with adobe photoshop. Victor is a pro in this. He did that to the laughing bhudda.
And yes, I'll get the recipe and try out the "suan pan zi". Mouth water leow.
Today in the Straits Times, there are 3 letters in response to the article by Dr Giam Choo Hoo dated 1 Dec 2006. They are entitled:
1. Was the shark finned alive? When in doubt skip the soup;
2. Save the sharks, forgo that bowl of fin soup; and
3. Eat shark's fin soup without feeling guilty? That's wrong message to send out.
Go read them yourself. I needn't say anything more.
Victor, I survive the Great White Shark. There's always two side to a coin, pal. Read today's ST forum page H9 dated 11/12. The title screams "Discern the truth about save-the-sharks drive".
I rest my case.
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