How to ban shark finning

Since the New Year is fast approaching, you have to start it by doing something good and making sure that you are able to help in making sure that the coming year will be something great not just for you, but for other inhabitants of the earth, as well. One of the ways that this could happen is by helping to ban shark finning. Get involved. 

Why do people like to harvest sharks’ fins, anyway? Here are some reasons why:

• To make shark fin soup, a popular Chinese dish that is often served in banquets and weddings. It is believed that shark fins are symbolic to wealth, honor and prosperity.
• Shark fins can be sold as dried fish products.
• Shark fins can also be used as toppings or ingredients to dumplings, and other Chinese dishes.

But, no matter what people say, and whatever these traditions may be, the fact that people hurt sharks just so they can use their fins for food is very unethical. It is a threat not just to the lives of sharks, but to people, as well. Why is that, though? Here’s what you should know:

• Sharks do not have the capacity to excrete the dirt and toxins that they have accumulated by eating fish and other things that may have been thrown in the sea. In fact, these toxins and waste materials may stay in their bodies for as long as 50 to 100 years. Therefore, it means that these dirty substances are still in their bodies and you are prone to getting them, too, by eating the body parts of sharks.
• Sharks are prone to absorbing Methyl-Mercury through ocean volatization, which is one of the most dangerous substances in the world because it comes from anaerobic organisms that live in oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. Methyl-Mercury is harmful to people who are prone to allergies, and to pregnant women, as well.

How can you help?

Start the New Year right by making sure that you get to help sharks out. Here are some of the things that you can do to ban shark finning:

• Sign Petitions. While it may seem like an invaluable thing, it could actually help out in any cause because it is able to get people’s attention and it is a sign that many people believe that it is important to ban shark finning.
• Do not patronize shark fin soup, and other products made with shark fin. Because if many people do not eat shark fin soup and other shark fin products, then it means that putting sharks’ lives in danger would be for nothing, and it could be a big wake up call for those who are in the business of finning sharks.
• Join Environmental Activist Groups that work for the benefit of sharks. This way, you can be sure that you’re working for the same cause and that sooner or later, sharks will be free from harm.

One small step could cause a lot of positive things to happen. Start the year right by helping sharks out.

Dive to Promote Ban on Shark Fin

Because the best way to promote the ban on shark fin is to understand sharks, and the best way to know more about the sharks is by diving with them, you should be aware of the guidelines on how to dive with them in the first place. In this post, you will learn more about the diving considerations that you have to make every time you think about diving with these creatures.

Planning

In planning for the dive, you have to select the specific species of sharks that you are comfortable to dive with at this point. If you do not have any idea on how to choose the species, it is best to ask those who are highly experienced with the field. You should also take part in the briefing program. This program contains important instructions on how to safely navigate your way to optimal shark diving. As for the operators, you should choose those who are willing to uphold the advocacy regarding the ban on shark fin. 

Diving Preparation

In preparing for the diving experience, you have to make sure that the dive operator is equipped with first aid kit. This will help all of you if something untoward happens. In this regard, you also need to make sure that the dive guide is highly experienced in the field of shark diving. If you are just beginning to dive, you should not push your luck. You should only dive under the conditions that you are already accustomed with. In line with this, you should not dive if the water provides you with a low shark visibility level.

Actual Plunge

During the actual shark diving, you need to follow everything that your dive guide is telling you. These instructions are geared to promote safety for you and for the other people who will be involved with the activity. Because the sharks get distracted with significant water movement, you should make sure that you will get in and out of the water as quietly as you can. This will tell the sharks that you are friendly and mean them no harm. It will also help if you will constantly keep an eye contact with them. 

Post Diving Concerns

After the shark diving activity, you have to provide appropriate feedback for your diving operator. The feedback should heavily focus on the actual experience. This will give the operator some objective basis on how to make the diving experience a lot better for those who want to try out the activity. You also need to tell your experience to other people. You should especially tell the experience to those who are wary of going near any shark species. You may post videos and photos to showcase the beauty of these creatures. Documenting the experience in written format is also a nice way to promote your advocacy.

Both the divers and the dive operators should bear equal levels of responsibility when they want to take part in shark diving to promote ban on shark fin. For one thing, both of the parties should take the responsibility seriously because this can affect the safety levels of the entire event for the people who are involved.