Shark Finning is the practice of cutting off a shark's fins while it is still alive and discarding the rest of its body into the ocean. Sharks thrown into shallow water will sink to the ocean floor, dying either from bleeding or drowning. If the shark is thrown back into deep water, it may implode due to rapid pressure changes in its soft body. They can also starve and be eaten by other fish. Shark fins are used to prepare a soup considered an Asian “delicacy”. The reasons why sharks should be admired and not hunted are almost endless. Although it creates easy revenue for third world countries, shark finning is a barbaric practice that must end. Sharks are among the oldest species to have ever existed on Earth, dating back over 400 million years; long before the time of dinosaurs. There are around 500 distinct varieties of sharks, and due to shark fins, some shark populations have declined by around 90%. The diversity of sharks ranges from the breathtaking to the mundane to the downright strange. Previously considered strictly saltwater animals, some species are also known to live in freshwater. Sharks are extra sensory animals and can detect the slightest changes in their environment. They can hear sounds inaudible to humans more than a kilometer away and feel the smallest changes in pressure around their body; both are essential to the hunting ability of sharks. Sharks are the ocean's top predators, which means they regulate the marine food web. The ocean (there is only one, not 7) covers between 70 and 75% of the Earth's surface and is home to 80 to 90% of all life on earth, but the role of sharks in the Maintaining the ocean is often overlooked. The main reason... middle of paper......$100 a bowl, and it's a traditional wedding meal that shows the bride's family how rich the groom's family is. A common tradition attached to shark fin soup is that "longer noodles mean longer life." The high demand for shark fins has driven the price up to around $300 per pound!! Once exclusive to China, shark fin soup is now becoming a popular dish around the world. Besides the moral implications, there is another reason to turn away from shark fin soup; “this can be detrimental to neurological health.” The fins tested contain the toxin BMAA which, when ingested, increases the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gering's disease), Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. International law relating to the conservation and management of sharks is fragmented and fragmented. However, environmental advocates are making progress toward ending this destructive practice..