Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by dumbdumb! @ Tue, 13 May 2008 19:34:36 +0800

dumbdumb! — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:34:36 +0800

so the taste in shark fin is the chicken broth.. hmm. so next time wedding i'll ask them just dun include the shark's fin

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 19:14:22 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:14:22 +0800

Originally posted by dumbdumb!:

hmm.. shark fin's soup right, if u remove the shark fins as ingredient, would you still get the taste? i mean, the gooey stuff can't be the shark's fin right?

for your info, shark's fin itself has no taste or flavour. Why people eat shark's fin is because of the mistaken belief or exaggerated claims of its medicinal attributes. They say it is good for waist, supplement vital energy, good for kidneys and liver, and nourish the blood. But these cannot be supported with any evidence by today's nutritional studies. Shark fins of course does have alot proteins and gelatin which helps cartilage growth BUT it is true that they do contain mercury and lead but I am not so sure whether it is at a level too dangerous for human to consume, which is what alot of conservationists are claiming.

The real hero of shark fins soup is the "SHANG TANG" which is the superior broth which is concentrated chicken broth. That broth itself is the pride and joy of any masterchef haha.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by dumbdumb! @ Tue, 13 May 2008 19:11:00 +0800

dumbdumb! — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:11:00 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

have you eaten vegetarian shark's fin soup before ? ... the real "fake" stuff, not those made with rice vermicelli ....

there's your answer .....

nope never. maybe just switch to vegetarian shark's fin soup lor. if it tastes the same, no loss, and all gain

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Tue, 13 May 2008 18:17:19 +0800

Fatum — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:17:19 +0800

Originally posted by dumbdumb!:

hmm.. shark fin's soup right, if u remove the shark fins as ingredient, would you still get the taste? i mean, the gooey stuff can't be the shark's fin right?

have you eaten vegetarian shark's fin soup before ? ... the real "fake" stuff, not those made with rice vermicelli ....

there's your answer .....

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by dumbdumb! @ Tue, 13 May 2008 18:11:03 +0800

dumbdumb! — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:11:03 +0800

hmm.. shark fin's soup right, if u remove the shark fins as ingredient, would you still get the taste? i mean, the gooey stuff can't be the shark's fin right?

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:55:31 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:55:31 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

yeah, fine dude ... I don't want to turn even the food forum into another speakers corner too (gasp !) ...

but you know ... we can all make a difference ... all it takes, is to say no ...

ya lah no point right haha.

yeah like i said, I dun eat shark meat at all and I maybe eat shark fin soup sometimes not even once a year nowadays cos most of my peers are already married so no chance to eat liao haha.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:47:41 +0800

Fatum — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:47:41 +0800

Originally posted by gasband:

haha ok lah i dun think we are getting anywhere. You made your point and I made mine and I think both of us are as clear as we can be in making our points so I will just leave it that we agree to disagree then hehe.

yeah, fine dude ... I don't want to turn even the food forum into another speakers corner too (gasp !) ...

but you know ... we can all make a difference ... all it takes, is to say no ...

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:41:30 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:41:30 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

I shall quote myself again here ... this is what I said about you previously ... and it appears that you're doing it again ...

"if you're trying to point fingers at other countries and say "hey ! ... they are the bigger culprits" ... then I think YOU are missing the point .... "

maybe you think that the world is blaming shark's finning (20% of the fishery, according to your statistics) .... while neglecting the other 80% of the fishery ... of course, in asia, you'd get this picture, because that's where shark's fin soup are traditionally drunk ... wouldn't it be stupid, for an anti-shark's fin soup campaign to be held at, say, Europe or north america, where no one has ever had a bowl of shark's fin soup in their lives ? .... the world is bigger than what you see dude ....

in the mean time, it doesn't matter how big a contributing factor the shark fishery in our region is to the overall global decline of sharks ... it IS a fact that sharks are being depleted in OUR regional waters, and almost of it is due to the shark's fin trade, nevermind if the fins were removed before or after the sharks' died ....

I have been scuba diving for 10 years .... flipping through my dive logs, I have only sighted a real shark, twice...... that says a lot for a region that's been described as the epicenter, the wellspring of marine biodiversity ...

or maybe, of course, you can try to argue that perhaps it's not local fishermen but north american and european fleets were cruising the andaman and sulu seas catching up all the sharks ....

haha ok lah i dun think we are getting anywhere. You made your point and I made mine and I think both of us are as clear as we can be in making our points so I will just leave it that we agree to disagree then hehe.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:33:45 +0800

Fatum — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:33:45 +0800

Originally posted by gasband:

Ah yes, you get the point of SHARK EXPLOITATION and thats what I was trying to say, that Shark Fin Soup is not the biggest culprit if you want to pinpoint that demand creates more finning. That is why I say 80% of the sharks are fished by european countries for whatever other usage (other than shark fin soup cos they hardly eat that). To make shark fin soup the main culprit is missing the point. Even if illegal finning is eliminated, the truth is that sharks will continued to be fished down for other usage and sooner or later, this beautiful creature will still be endangered and extinct. True, if people cut down on shark fin soup, most likely illegal finning would decrease. But still, that doesnt solve the main problem of sharks being hunted down to the brink of extinction right? Shouldnt we be also hitting the nail on the head which according to CITES is the 80% of shark fishing that comes from the western countries.

My point abt all these conservation groups is that why campaign so hard against finning when the bigger of problem of shark extinction is actually the fishing of these creatures for things like you mentioned, fish and chips or even for rearing as pets haha. FINNING is cruel. But ultimately it will not cause sharks to be extinct faster than if you stop fishing them for their meat or other parts. I would think that a conservation group would be more concerned about protecting the species on the whole rather than just pin point on the issue of shark fin soup. Are they conservationist or animalitarian (if there is such a word haha)?

And anyway I dun eat shark meat at all nor do I drink shark fin soup regularly enough to die from mercury poisioning. So thanks for your concern. That is, if you were genuinely concerned about me hahaha.

I shall quote myself again here ... this is what I said about you previously ... and it appears that you're doing it again ...

"if you're trying to point fingers at other countries and say "hey ! ... they are the bigger culprits" ... then I think YOU are missing the point .... "

maybe you think that the world is blaming shark's finning (20% of the fishery, according to your statistics) .... while neglecting the other 80% of the fishery ... of course, in asia, you'd get this picture, because that's where shark's fin soup are traditionally drunk ... wouldn't it be stupid, for an anti-shark's fin soup campaign to be held at, say, Europe or north america, where no one has ever had a bowl of shark's fin soup in their lives ? .... the world is bigger than what you see dude ....

in the mean time, it doesn't matter how big a contributing factor the shark fishery in our region is to the overall global decline of sharks ... it IS a fact that sharks are being depleted in OUR regional waters, and almost of it is due to the shark's fin trade, nevermind if the fins were removed before or after the sharks' died ....

I have been scuba diving for 10 years .... flipping through my dive logs, I have only sighted a real shark, twice...... that says a lot for a region that's been described as the epicenter, the wellspring of marine biodiversity ...

or maybe, of course, you can try to argue that perhaps it's not local fishermen but north american and european fleets were cruising the andaman and sulu seas catching up all the sharks ....

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:16:22 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:16:22 +0800

but anyway I respect your committment to protect sharks and dun get me wrong, I also love the environment and believe strongly in protecting the animals and faunas and that is why I give a small sum of money every month to WWF Hongkong. I know money is nothing to saving the environment but then it demonstrates my conviction in that movement, just that for this issue, I feel that many groups are missing the bigger picture. You can save sharks more if you can stop the 80% for fishing them for other purposes.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 17:12:26 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:12:26 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

Yes I was correct ... you have been missing the point all along.... taking the whole shark, or just the fins alone, makes no difference, the shark is just as dead afterwards ! ... it's still a statistical loss ! ...

sharks are not like your run of the mill kembong or batang you see in the fish market ... they don't breed fast and grow slowly .... yet they have an important function as apex predators in the eco system ....

and if your mindset says that since it's already dead, so let's not waste it, then nothing will change ... cos you're still creating the future demand, the market for it .... you think by slurping down that bowl of soup, patting your own stomach, and saying "I'll eat this bowl, since it's already in front of me, but don't feed me shark's fin again" is going to change anything ? ....

the real issue is NOT SHARK'S FINNING ! ... IT IS THE EXPLOITATION IF SHARKS ! ..... whether it's fishermen in the med taking whole sharks for european fish and chips (with the fins exported to asia anyways), or fishermen in the philipines finning sharks, it makes no difference, that's what you have been missing all along ...

but hey, good luck with the mercury in your system ...

Ah yes, you get the point of SHARK EXPLOITATION and thats what I was trying to say, that Shark Fin Soup is not the biggest culprit if you want to pinpoint that demand creates more finning. That is why I say 80% of the sharks are fished by european countries for whatever other usage (other than shark fin soup cos they hardly eat that). To make shark fin soup the main culprit is missing the point. Even if illegal finning is eliminated, the truth is that sharks will continued to be fished down for other usage and sooner or later, this beautiful creature will still be endangered and extinct. True, if people cut down on shark fin soup, most likely illegal finning would decrease. But still, that doesnt solve the main problem of sharks being hunted down to the brink of extinction right? Shouldnt we be also hitting the nail on the head which according to CITES is the 80% of shark fishing that comes from the western countries.

My point abt all these conservation groups is that why campaign so hard against finning when the bigger of problem of shark extinction is actually the fishing of these creatures for things like you mentioned, fish and chips or even for rearing as pets haha. FINNING is cruel. But ultimately it will not cause sharks to be extinct faster than if you stop fishing them for their meat or other parts. I would think that a conservation group would be more concerned about protecting the species on the whole rather than just pin point on the issue of shark fin soup. Are they conservationist or animalitarian (if there is such a word haha)?

And anyway I dun eat shark meat at all nor do I drink shark fin soup regularly enough to die from mercury poisioning. So thanks for your concern. That is, if you were genuinely concerned about me hahaha.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Tue, 13 May 2008 09:54:12 +0800

Fatum — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:54:12 +0800

Originally posted by gasband:

My point or points is/are:

1) Giam Choo Hoo of CITES said that "vast majority of fins in the market are taken from sharks after their death" its not SOME FINS, its VAST MAJORITY. So according to him, FINNING is present but not prevalent. But again its up to anyone to believe him or believe what groups like Wildaid claim right? Afterall we ourselves do not have figures and facts on our hands.

2) It is not fair to tell people hey its wrong to drink shark fin soup because of finning. WHat if the other person tells you, how do you know the fin i am eating is from illegal finning and not those fins taken after death? Is there anything wrong with eating something from a fish that is already dead just like any other fish that we eat?

3) Attack the real issue which is SHRAK FINNING. NOT SHARK FIN SOUP eating.

Yes I was correct ... you have been missing the point all along.... taking the whole shark, or just the fins alone, makes no difference, the shark is just as dead afterwards ! ... it's still a statistical loss ! ...

sharks are not like your run of the mill kembong or batang you see in the fish market ... they don't breed fast and grow slowly .... yet they have an important function as apex predators in the eco system ....

and if your mindset says that since it's already dead, so let's not waste it, then nothing will change ... cos you're still creating the future demand, the market for it .... you think by slurping down that bowl of soup, patting your own stomach, and saying "I'll eat this bowl, since it's already in front of me, but don't feed me shark's fin again" is going to change anything ? ....

the real issue is NOT SHARK'S FINNING ! ... IT IS THE EXPLOITATION IF SHARKS ! ..... whether it's fishermen in the med taking whole sharks for european fish and chips (with the fins exported to asia anyways), or fishermen in the philipines finning sharks, it makes no difference, that's what you have been missing all along ...

but hey, good luck with the mercury in your system ...

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by nehpyh @ Tue, 13 May 2008 09:44:16 +0800

nehpyh — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:44:16 +0800

Eat mercury already will be as long-life as Qing Shi Huang!!!!

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 09:37:04 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:37:04 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

so you don't like shark's fins enough to be their advocate, I suppose that means you're willing to help reduce the pressures on sharks? . ..

so what's your point, really, other than saying that hey, some fins are taken off dead sharks ? ....

My point or points is/are:

1) Giam Choo Hoo of CITES said that "vast majority of fins in the market are taken from sharks after their death" its not SOME FINS, its VAST MAJORITY. So according to him, FINNING is present but not prevalent. But again its up to anyone to believe him or believe what groups like Wildaid claim right? Afterall we ourselves do not have figures and facts on our hands.

2) It is not fair to tell people hey its wrong to drink shark fin soup because of finning. WHat if the other person tells you, how do you know the fin i am eating is from illegal finning and not those fins taken after death? Is there anything wrong with eating something from a fish that is already dead just like any other fish that we eat?

3) Attack the real issue which is SHRAK FINNING. NOT SHARK FIN SOUP eating.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Short Ninja @ Tue, 13 May 2008 07:37:05 +0800

Short Ninja — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:37:05 +0800

That is why I only go for Miso Soup with eggs

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Tue, 13 May 2008 07:34:44 +0800

Fatum — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:34:44 +0800

Originally posted by gasband:

You are also missing my point. My point is DUN make shark fin soup the CULPRIT responsible for the shark's plight today. BEING ENDANGERED is a different story altogether from Shark Finning which I definitely agree that it is CRUELTY. I do not like SHark Fin that much to advocate that shark fin soup must stay. But just because shark finning is cruel does not make shark fin soup eating wrong. CITES in fact says that shark finning is contained to a percentage where most fins are taken off after the shark is dead. But it is who to believe isnt it?

And while organisations like Wildaid says one thing about finning, CITES from the UN said the other thing. Its really up to you to believe who is telling the truth isnt it?

so you don't like shark's fins enough to be their advocate, I suppose that means you're willing to help reduce the pressures on sharks? . ..

so what's your point, really, other than saying that hey, some fins are taken off dead sharks ? ....

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Tue, 13 May 2008 00:41:42 +0800

gasband — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:41:42 +0800

Originally posted by Fatum:

if you're trying to point fingers at other countries and say "hey ! ... they are the bigger culprits" ... then I think YOU are missing the point ....

You are also missing my point. My point is DUN make shark fin soup the CULPRIT responsible for the shark's plight today. BEING ENDANGERED is a different story altogether from Shark Finning which I definitely agree that it is CRUELTY. I do not like SHark Fin that much to advocate that shark fin soup must stay. But just because shark finning is cruel does not make shark fin soup eating wrong. CITES in fact says that shark finning is contained to a percentage where most fins are taken off after the shark is dead. But it is who to believe isnt it?

And while organisations like Wildaid says one thing about finning, CITES from the UN said the other thing. Its really up to you to believe who is telling the truth isnt it?

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Fatum @ Mon, 12 May 2008 22:46:12 +0800

Fatum — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:46:12 +0800

Originally posted by gasband:

80% of sharks that are fished are in western nations like UK, Spain etc. You must note that sharks fished in these regions are not for their fins but for the whole fish. By saying that consuming Shark Fin Soup, you are destroying the shark community or endangering them, you are just making asian communities the lesser evil responsible for killing of sharks.

Finning of sharks are CRUEL. But finning of sharks occur in a certain percentage of shark fishing. Not are shark fins are obtained thru FINNING. Finning is cruel, but to say that Shark Fin Soup consumption causes near extinction of sharks is just missing the point.

WHY not stop eating Caviar? Sturgeons are near extinction too. Why not stop drinking alcohol? It is killing more people thru drink driving and DUI.

if you're trying to point fingers at other countries and say "hey ! ... they are the bigger culprits" ... then I think YOU are missing the point ....

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by fudgester @ Mon, 12 May 2008 22:40:23 +0800

fudgester — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:40:23 +0800

Seriously speaking, what's so freakin' good about sharks' fin?

It's just (literally) tasteless strings of gelatinuous stuff.... as the Baba dude has said, most of the flavour comes from the soup and not the actual sharks' fin. Simulated sharks' fin soup made of gelatine costs much less and tastes virtually the same.

The bottom line is.... the real reason why people eat sharks' fin is the snob factor due to its high price.

And it really speaks a lot if you have to kill a few sharks just to show other people that you've got money to burn.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by gasband @ Mon, 12 May 2008 22:17:52 +0800

gasband — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:17:52 +0800

80% of sharks that are fished are in western nations like UK, Spain etc. You must note that sharks fished in these regions are not for their fins but for the whole fish. By saying that consuming Shark Fin Soup, you are destroying the shark community or endangering them, you are just making asian communities the lesser evil responsible for killing of sharks.

Finning of sharks are CRUEL. But finning of sharks occur in a certain percentage of shark fishing. Not are shark fins are obtained thru FINNING. Finning is cruel, but to say that Shark Fin Soup consumption causes near extinction of sharks is just missing the point.

WHY not stop eating Caviar? Sturgeons are near extinction too. Why not stop drinking alcohol? It is killing more people thru drink driving and DUI.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by qlqq9 @ Sun, 11 May 2008 00:08:32 +0800

qlqq9 — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:08:32 +0800

Originally posted by alwaysdisturbed:

are we late back or what?

discovery channel had documentary on sharks and mentioned this point years ago.

ya lor. guess human beings need to be reminded.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by alwaysdisturbed @ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:51:23 +0800

alwaysdisturbed — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:51:23 +0800

are we late back or what?

discovery channel had documentary on sharks and mentioned this point years ago.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by qlqq9 @ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:44:51 +0800

qlqq9 — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:44:51 +0800

QX, thanks for the article, saw this on the news. I love shark's fin. I don't eat often.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by Kuali Baba @ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:32:37 +0800

Kuali Baba — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:32:37 +0800

Originally posted by cuddles:

those sashimi?

maguro and salmon!? oh no.. :(

Salmon isn't as bad in that regard but the farmed varieties contain higher amounts of PCB.

Shark meat contain high levels of mercury replied by cuddles @ Sat, 10 May 2008 20:21:30 +0800

cuddles — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:21:30 +0800

Originally posted by TehJarVu:

all deep sea fish are like that mah

swordfish also

those u eat as sashimi

those sashimi?

maguro and salmon!? oh no.. :(

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