I landed at the Bangkok, Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and was headed to immigration. This billboard was on display as a public service announcement showing a gentleman sitting at a table. It looked like he was pushing away a cup of coffee but the words in English said “Save Our Oceans, Say No To Shark Fin”.
Is This Ad A Joke?
It kind of made me laugh at first because I thought why would a guy sitting at a table drinking coffee be pushing a “save the oceans” campaign? As I scuba diver, ocean related content always catches my attention. Who is this well dressed, good looking dude drinking coffee to tell me to save the ocean?
Read Other Ocean Related Articles
This Is A Real Issue
It turns out, this is a public service ad about shark fin soup and that’s not a cup of coffee. The guy is a well-known Thai actor that scuba dives. He is pushing away a bowl of shark fin soup which is eaten throughout Asia at weddings, celebrations, banquets, and for luxury. It’s a status symbol. It’s a big issue in the rest of the world that isn’t really talked about in America. I’m doing this post as a part of ImSeeingTheWorld.com’s theme of seeing the world and sharing it with you but also doing my small part to raise awareness.
Why Its A Bad Deal
Shark fin soup is a bad deal because the shark fin is only 5% of the shark’s body but worth more than the rest of it. This article from the Smithsonian says one pound of shark fin goes for $500/USD ($1,100/USD per kilo). This encourages a fisherman maximize their profits by catching a shark, cutting the fin, and throwing it back in the water. It gives the fisherman less to handle. The shark on the other hand, can no longer be the fast, strong, sleek underwater force that it naturally is and dies a slow painful death. As a result, the number of sharks are being dramatically reduced around the world. With the reduction in sharks, the function that sharks provide to the underwater ecosystem is being hindered and the oceans are suffering. This is all bad. It’s a senseless concept.
High Profile Celebrities Are Speaking Out
There has been a big campaign against shark fining. Jackie Chan and former NBA player Yao Ming have put out public service announcements. There has been some improvement but it’s still not enough. High end selfish pricks still want to show off their wealth by indulging so there is still a market. There has been some regulation throughout Asia but enforcement is another story.
Do Your Part
Please refrain from indulging in shark fin soup when you’re seeing the world. It’s a pointless experience.
Resources:
- Wikipedia – Shark Fin Soup
- WildAid.org – Anti Shark Fin Public Service Announcement
- National Geographic – The Push To Stop Killing Sharks for their Fins
- Smithsonian – Shark Finning: Sharks Turned Prey
- ImSeeingTheWorld.com: Public Service Announcements
