As societies change, traditions must, too
From California to Guam, the movement to end the consumption of shark fin is gaining momentum. Amid this discussion, I find striking the repeated assertion, cited in defence of continuing the practice, that shark fin is an important element of Chinese culture.
Indeed, claims that opposing the practice is disrespecting a cultural tradition threaten to push what is in essence a sustainability issue towards a racial debate.
This raises several questions: what do we mean by culture? How far should we go to preserve it? And, is culture beyond criticism (and change), no matter the practice?
The term culture derives from the latin cultura - to cultivate and grow. For some, culture means the appreciation of the finer side of life; for others, it is a means to define oneself, ethnically or otherwise.
Culture provides us with a common identity through shared customs, traditions and behaviour. It is something we create. A practice may evolve to become symbolic; a long-standing tradition may be abandoned as societies' morality, knowledge and beliefs change.
Take the ban on fox hunting with hounds in England. Dating back to the mid-16th century, the practice began as a means to cull exploding fox populations. Eventually, the thrill of the chase outweighed the effectiveness of the cull, and the 'Hunt' became embedded in society as a sign of social status.
The 20th century then witnessed an explosion of interest in animal welfare, and society dictated that fox hunting was no longer morally acceptable. In 2004, it was banned. Other examples include foot binding in China, bull fighting in Catalonia, polygamy in the United States and even smoking in France.
Returning to shark fin, history shows that as early as the Song dynasty (960-1279), consuming this delicacy was the preserve of the rich and remained so until the 1970s.
With the intensification of fishing and new wealth in the region, shark fin became widely accessible to ordinary citizens. Its consumption evolved into a tradition at banquets as a sign of social standing and wealth. Today, the appetite for shark fin in Asia drives a lucrative trade.
Unfortunately, the tradition developed simultaneously with excessive consumption and degradation of the world's natural resources. Now we are fighting to protect our ecosystems, and sharks are on the front line.
Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year to satisfy our appetite for shark fin. Their populations worldwide are at high risk of extinction.
How far do we go to preserve a tradition when we know it is pushing a species towards extinction? A recent survey of cultural attitudes towards shark fin consumption locally found most respondents would not knowingly consume an endangered species.
Defending shark fin consumption in the name of culture has evolved into an excuse not to address the damage it causes and, despite claims to the contrary, voices against shark fin in Hong Kong are predominantly Chinese.
Unless we change our habits, sharks will be gone forever.
Stan Shea is a marine biologist with BLOOM (HK), a registered marine conservation organisation
