Finning shark: should this practice be banned? Ten rows of razor-sharp teeth, a serrated fin, fast swimming speeds, and a vicious bite: it's easy to see why so many humans fear the kings of the ocean. Sharks are one of the ocean's top predators, but their numbers are decreasing more and more every day. Why is such a dominant species endangered, you ask? Humans. On average, humans kill 3 sharks every second. That's staggering compared to the ten humans sharks mistakenly kill each year. The demand for shark fin soup has increased rapidly over the past two decades due to the rise of the middle and upper classes in many Asian countries. The fisherman imagined an effective mechanism for harvesting fins quickly and inexpensively: “shark finning”. Shark finning is the practice of cutting off the fins of sharks while they are still alive and then discarding their bodies back into the ocean. Nonetheless, shark fin soup is an important aspect of Chinese culture. There is currently much controversy on the subject and a balance must be found between humans and sharks. In the article Taking Social Argument Seriously, James Klumpp highlights the strength of this argument. When we ban together as a society, arguments have the power to change policy. Shark fin soup has existed since the Ming dynasty in China, around 1368-1644 (History of Shark Fin Soup). This dish is considered a treasure of the sea and is a delicacy in Chinese culture. The dish has long been a symbol of wealth and respect. Chinese emperors craved this soup because it is unusual, requires careful preparation, and is delicious. The tradition is still alive today and the soup is usually served on special occasions such as a wedding...... middle of paper ...... Pacific Fisheries Commission. Regular Session of the Scientific Committee, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. August 3, 2007. 17 p. Kettles, Nick. "Revealed: How demand for shark fin soup is fueling a bloody harvest." Ecologist 40.20 (2011): 10-13. Academic Research Alumni Edition. Internet. February 27, 2014.Rachels, James. Elements of moral philosophy. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1986. “Shark Truth” print. History of shark fin soup. Np, and Web. February 25, 2014. Techera, Erika J. “Fishing, finning and tourism: trends in Pacific shark conservation and management.” International Journal of Maritime and Coastal Law 27.4 (2012): 597-621. Academic Research Alumni Edition. Internet. February 27, 2014. “What can you do to stop shark finning? » Stop shark finning. Np, and Web. February 27. 2014. .