shark fin soup

Shark fin soup is a delicacy originating from China or Hong Kong, often served at special occasions. The soup's primary ingredient is the fins of sharks, which are harvested through a practice called finning. This involves catching sharks, removing their fins, and often discarding the live shark back into the ocean, where it cannot swim and eventually dies.123

The fins themselves have little flavor and primarily add texture to the soup, with the broth providing the main taste. The demand for shark fin soup has led to significant declines in shark populations worldwide, with tens of millions of sharks killed annually for their fins. This practice has raised concerns among animal rights groups and environmentalists, leading to campaigns to discourage consumption and some restaurants and countries removing the dish from their menus. The soupfin shark (Galeorhinus galeus) is one species whose fins are used in soups.314