Palau Creates A Shark Sanctuary Who Will Be Next

Palau declares a shark sanctuary that will extend throughout its 600,000 sq. Km of Pacific Ocean territory. Who will be next?

How Palau will enforced a shark sanctuary with just one fisheries patrol boat is whole different question but somebody had to make the statement, that the slaughter of (an estimated) 100 million sharks a year just for their fins is morally reprehensible in a civilised world. Perhaps a more wealthy nation would like to donate a patrol boat or five to Palau, instead of wasting their money losing the war in the Middle East.

Having lived in Hong Kong for many years I was guilty of eating shark fin soup -- it is a bit like slurping a soggy (natural-bristle) floor-brush, made palatable by the addition of copious quantities of MSG and vinegar, i.e. zero nutritional value, maximum ego -- before I discovered the methods by which the main ingredient was acquired. Never again has shark fin passed my lips.

Some say that the practice of eating shark fin soup stems from a long-ago period of extreme poverty in China, when there was little to fill the stomach; others assert that it was the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), who wanted to demonstrate their power over all things by eating symbolic parts of any creature in Nature more powerful (shark, tiger, bear etc.). How the shark fin soup fad started and why it has spread to the rest of the world is irrelevant; it must stop.

How to stop the slaughter of sharks for shark fin soup? Simple! Remove the market for the product. If Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, now that he has full knowledge of the environmental cost of shark fin soup, would like to demonstrate how far China has come in recent years as a modern civilisation and publicly reject the next bowl of shark fin soup offered at his next state banquet, perhaps shark fin soup will fall out of favour and the whole planet once again be a shark sanctuary. When the whole planet is a shark sanctuary, these majestic and graceful examples of Mother Nature's perfection will be allowed to continue to live in peace and harmony throughout the seven seas.

Thank you Palau for declaring a shark sanctuary and demonstrating to the World that no matter your size, your voice will be heard.

Who will be next to follow Palau?

John Smart - reformed shark fin soup eater