Shark-fin soup is a delicacy in many Asian countries; however with declining populations and high-yield catches, the shark population being fished for this delicacy has dwindled to very low numbers. However, with shark-fin soup being a delicacy in high demand, many native fisherman make a living off of catching sharks for the fins, and the soup is part of many ceremonies in several Asian cultures.
There is a bill passing through the United States Congress called the "Shark Conservation Act" which would limit the total amount of sharks allowed to be captured and require all caught sharks to be brought to dock intact (which would allow less sharks to be caught in one trip, as a whole shark takes up much more space than its fins alone). How could we apply an idea like this to the Asian cultures? We can't simply deny them the right to eat shark-fin soup, as it is part of their cultural heritage and some native fishermen depend on the income from the shark fishing to supply for their family, but if we allow them to fish at current rates, they could completely deplete some shark populations and drive some species close, or into, extinction from overfishing.
We should help educate other cultures that, if they help protect the sharks now, the sharks will be available for their cultural uses into the future.
It is interesting that you posted information about the consumption of sharks. The week before, in Chicago, there was some amazing numbers posted on the amount of Shark served at the "Taste of Chicago".
It can be a sensitive subject when involving cultural needs and beliefs, but how do you approach it when is widely accepted at a city event?
-Fishfriend