This article covers a recent ban on expensive items at receptions in China. They begin with a focus on shark fin soup, abalone, and birds nest soup, but don’t highlight the damage done to the animals or specifically sharks until the end of the article. There was a ban on serving shark fin soup in restaurants and hotels due to the high demand with increased wealth around China. The idea of being frugal and cutting back on unnecessary spending is the main argument presented. It is interesting because the article drew me in with Shark Fin in the title, but that is not a key point. However, the article is showing that movements are being made to help decrease the need for shark fins, whether or not their motive is for the sharks benefit.
Posts
Shark Truth
Shark Truth is a unique program that aims to gain awareness about the danger sharks are in and what they are being killed for. They focus on shark fin soup and other alternatives for the Chinese delicacy. The organization was founded as a non profit but now is under the Hua Foundation. They are careful to maintain the balance of tradition with the new ages, presenting alternatives to shark fin soup at weddings.
Shark Fin Soup
This article shows a different perspective on the efforts to stop killing sharks for the traditional shark fin soup. The article explains how fins are sold within the states and around the world, including the price, which at its highest can be up to $2,200 per pound. There have been bans put on finning as well as trading. The article was helpful in understanding finning. its cruelty and effect on sharks. It provides links to helpful documents and bills that explain current conditions and what can be done to help.
The interesting twist in this article is its focus, which is on a chef who has made an effort to find a substitute for the delicacy. Understanding that it is a tradition, he has gone to great lengths to find something suitable for the dish. This is one of the first attempts to adjust the issue at hand rather then eliminate shark fin soup altogether. This allows for others to pursue this idea and maybe come up with a compromise for both sides. 
Top 20 Endangered Sharks
The discovery channel assembled a list of the 20 most endangered sharks. Majority of the names of sharks on the list were unknown to me, but the details included the estimated population of some which are below 300, and others which haven’t been sited in years, like the Pondicherry Shark. The actual list of all endangered or threatened shark species exceeds 200. The fact that this animal is so unknown to us and in so much danger is something that needs to be taken into consideration.
Although most species listed below are not in danger due to finning, humans still have an impact on their population decline through depleting resources, pollution, and bycatching (the accidental catching of a shark while fishing). By creating awareness for Sharks, especially the ones in danger of extinction, it can also allow us to explore more about this animal.
1. Ganges Shark
2. Pondicherry Shark
3. Bizant River Shark
4. New Guinea River Shark
5. Angel Shark
6. Striped Dogfish
7. Daggernose Shark
8. Dumb Gulper Shark
9. Whitefin Topeshark
10. Borneo Shark
11. Speartooth Shark
12. Sawback Angelshark
13. Smoothback Angelshark
14. Narrownose Smoothhound
15. Argentine Angelshark
16. Flapnose Houndshark
17. Sharpfin Houndshark
18. Smoothtooth Blacktip
19. Bluegray Carpetshark
20. Southern Sawtail Catshark
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/sharks/conservation/20-most-endangered-sharks/
See link below for full list of Endangered Shark Species:
http://www.shark.ch/Preservation/EndangeredSharks/index.html
Shark Angels
The Shark Angels non-profit organization was started by three conservationists from different organizations who came together on the project of showing the world a new perspective on sharks in the Bahamas. Julie Anderson, Alison Kock and Kim McCoy are dubbed the “Shark Angels” when the three women got into the water with dozens of tiger sharks and lemon sharks with the goal to prove that sharks are not the enemies. The event was captured and made into a short film released to the public in hopes that it sparked the attention that they intended it to.
The short film received a handful of reactions and a large amount of attention, so Julie Anderson decided to start up the organization, Shark Angels, as a non-profit.
Mission Statement: “The Shark Angels are leading a positive, contagious movement to save sharks – and the oceans. We are a passionate, global community that believes in the power of education, media and local grassroots campaigns. We raise awareness to the critical issues, educate children, change perspectives, and empower and connect advocates to act locally to save sharks and the critical ecosystems they support.”
Shark Angels website: http://www.sharkangels.org/
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