Shark Finning: Should the practice be banned? Ten rows of razor-sharp teeth, a serrated fin, fast swimming speeds and a ferocious bite – it's easy to see why so many humans are afraid of the kings of the ocean. Sharks are the ocean's top predators, yet their numbers are decreasing every day. Why is such a dominant species dying out, you ask? Humans. On average, humans kill 3 sharks per second. This is astonishing compared to just ten humans that 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 thought of an efficient mechanism to collect fins quickly and cheaply: shark finning. Shark finning is the practice of cutting off the fins of sharks while they are still alive, then throwing their bodies back into the ocean. However, shark fin soup is an important aspect of Chinese culture. There is currently a lot of controversy on the topic and a balance needs to be achieved 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, discussion has the power to change policies. Shark fin soup has been around since the Ming Dynasty in China, around 1368-1644 (History of Shark Fin Soup). The dish is considered a treasure of the sea and is a delicacy in Chinese culture. The dish is a long-standing symbol of wealth and respect. Chinese emperors craved the soup because it is unusual, requires elaborate preparation, and is delicious. The tradition still holds true and the soup is usually served on special occasions such as wedding... middle of paper... Pacific Fisheries Commission. Regular Scientific Committee Session, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. August 2007, 3. 17 p. Kettles, Nick. “Revealed: How Demand for Shark Fin Soup Fuels the Bloody Harvest.” Ecologist 40.20 (2011): 10-13. Academic Research Alumni Edition. Network. February 27, 2014.Rachels, James. The elements of moral philosophy. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1986. Print."Shark Truth." History of shark fin soup. Np, nd Web. 25 February 2014. Techera, Erika J. “Fishing, finning and tourism: trends in the conservation and management of Pacific sharks.” International Journal of Maritime and Coastal Law 27.4 (2012): 597-621. Academic Research Alumni Edition. Network. February 27, 2014."What can you do to stop shark finning?" Stop shark finning. Np, nd Web. 27 February. 2014. .