The high-end Chinese delicacy of shark fin soup may soon disappear from Indian restaurants. The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has prohibited removal of shark fins on board a vessel in the sea.
In a policy decision taken on Friday, it has observed that any possession of shark fins that are not naturally attached to the body of the shark, would amount to “hunting” of these Schedule 1 species, under Wildlife Protection Act (WlPA), 1972. Shark fins are key ingredients in the lucrative traditional Chinese delicacy of shark fin soup, which is claimed to increase appetite, have various health benefits, and believed to be an aphrodisiac.
Due to such high demand of shark fins, it has been reported that these large cartilaginous fish are captured mid sea - their fins removed on the vessel and the de finned sharks then thrown back in the sea to die a painful death. Such practice leads to difficulties in enforcement of provisions of WlPA-1972, pointed out the sources in MoEF. Identifying the species of sharks from the fins alone becomes difficult without the corresponding carcass from which the fins have been detached, they pointed out, which led to the policy decision by the Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan.
The policy also calls for concerted action and implementation by the State Governments concerned through appropriate legislative, enforcement and other measures. The official order comes following the recently concluded International Shark Week on August 11. According to Uma Rani, Secretary Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the brutal act of de- finning a shark is a punishable offense even under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. Big fishing trawlers are only hunting for sharks to cut away their fins, she reminded.
However, unlike other species of fish, sharks are not prolific breeders hence many species are endangered and/or threatened due to the fin trade, she added. India is home to about 40-60 species of sharks. The population of some of them have declined over the years for several reasons including over-exploitation and unsustainable fishing practices. As a result, 10 species have been listed in the Schedule-I of WlPA. According to experts, populations of some species have been declining by 90% or more since the 1970IJs, and 1 in 6 known species of sharks skates and rays (allied species) are threatened with extinction/ listed red by IUCN.
They pointed out that contrary to the popular belief, shark fins lack nutritional value, but they could actually be dangerous to human health. They pointed out large fish as sharks that are at the top of the food chain accumulate mercury consumed from smaller fish. This is particularly risky for expecting mothers as mercury could have harmful neurological effects on foetus.