A Growing Movement to Save Sharks

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/opinion/a-growing-movement-to-save-sharks.html?_r=1&ref=endangeredandextinctspecies     
Article published: October 3, 2011 
New York Times
           
Picture: This picture shows the fin of a shark cut off. It might be a graphic picture, but this picture represents the topic well because some people might not realize how serious a problem like this is until they see what is actually happening.

           

Summary:Throughout different parts of the world, sharks are being killed just for their fins. Due to this, the population of sharks have decreased incredibly, causing them to become a threatened species.  If sharks became extinct, many problems could arise and effect the marine food chain extremely. More than 70 million die each year for their fins. Killing sharks just for their fin is called “Finning”. People across nations will continue doing this, unless there is some government movement to stop the finning of the sharks. Since 2000, the U.S has banned shark finning, but still allow shark fishing.  In some areas  the sale of shark fins is banned, especially in places like, California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Some places like China and East Asia on the other hand have a  harder time restricting the shark finning considering the extreme popularity for shark fin soup and other foods. Eventually though, we hope that shark finning can be banned all over.

Opinion/ Reflection
This article took me by surprise considering I had no idea that sharks were a threatened species. I never knew “finning” was so popular either. I think that a topic like this should be much more publicized then it is in order to get the attention of more people and actually get some people to listen. I personally don't like seafood, and when I hear stories about shark fin soup, it disgusts me. I don't think such horrible things should be done to sharks just to make soup out of their fin. This should be put to a stop.

Questions
1.) Why is shark finning so popular?
2.) What is another way besides banning that could help save more sharks?
3.) Where is shark finning actually banned?
4.) How could the extinction of sharks effect the marine food chain?
5.) Why do you think there is more of a passion of shark finning in Asia and not in the United States?