Research Chart

Literature Review
Source 1: Chapter 524: The Ecology and Controversy of Shark-Fin Soup
Author: Rebecca Tatum
This source essentially discusses regulations in California that prevent Shark Fin Soup from being
served. However, the laws still are not completely definite, and loopholes around them can be found.
Page # Your Fastwrite Response
667-681 Believing: This article said many ideas that I agree with. I feel
Direct quotes finning should be illegal. To possess those fins is a murderous act
-IPOA regulates harvests to sustainable levels in itself. By slaughtering an animal inhumanely and not even
using the rest of the shark is absolutely ridiculous.
-CITES, however, regulates only three shark species out Doubting: I do not see the intensity of sending someone away to
of the approximately 400 shark species in existence and jail for finning. Personally I believe it should just be an extremely
lacks a centralized body to enforce its regulations. large fine for offenders to pay in addition to ecosystem awareness
training.
- Many of the top shark-fishing nations have opted out
of regulation as to the three covered species Look left, find something to respond to:
At first I thought shark finning should be regulated, then I
- One flaw in the federal laws enforcement was a thought there should be harvesting seasons, however now I feel
loophole allowing boats to transport shark fins, as long like it should be illegal all together. Looking back especially at
this article shows me of the horrors that sharks undergo. It makes
 me connect on an emotional level to the sharks that are left alone
as the fishermen did not fin the sharks aboard that vessel; to die alone and bleeding out. I also noticed this topic draws a
enforcement essentially required catching fishermen in large number of similarities toward the ethics behind poultry and
the act of finning. pork practices. Like sharks they are mutilated and there is
absolutely no need. This is particularly what led me to believe
The decline of the shark, a top ocean predator, threatens that practices should be banned. The sheer cruelty displayed by
dire circumstances for the ocean ecosystem as a these fisherman toward these animals is absolutely sickening.
whole.82 The shark is an apex predator, meaning that it Keeping this in mind leads me to another question. How are these
is at the top of the food chain and has few or no natural fisherman not disgusted at what they are doing to these fish? Do
predators itself.83 Apex predators like sharks keep they not have any compassion or hurt for these animals?
populations of their prey species in check.84 Sharks
serve a crucial role in keeping the ecosystem balanced:
when an apex predator disappears from a system, its prey
species reproduce wildly, decimating their food sources
in the process, leading to population crashes and out-of-
balance ecology
Paraphrases
-Shark finning is starting to attract global attention with
stricter regulations.
- Shark finning in China still is not illegal, however the
door to restrictions on trade is opening.
-Obama attempted to correct shark finning loopholes by
requiring fins to be attached to the shark while in boats.
- Sharks and humans have similar reproductive
capacities (bear small number of children and reach
sexual maturity later on in life)
Summaries of key ideas
This article summarizes the beginning ethics of shark fin
soup. This Chinese American man who actually grew up
eating soup explains different legislations and laws
primarily in California that have been enacted. He also
speaks of different loopholes and ways around these
laws.
Facts
-1/3 the shark species are endangered because
overfishing/ finning

-73 million sharks die a year

-The California Shark Protection Act, Chapter 524,

makes it unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer
for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin.

-In addition, Chapter 524, as modified by Chapter 525,

allows restaurants to prepare and sell, through July 2013,
any shark fins in stock on or before January 1, 2012
Claims
-Shark finning should be illegal
-Being able to kill sharks and throw them back into the
ocean should be a punishable offense.
-Any persons possessing fins should pay a fine and
spend up to 1 year in jail.
Phrases
-There is necessity for a complete ban
-increased enforcement requires increased expenditures
- Shark Fin Soup Controversy
-Ecology of Shark Fin Soup
Formal and technical language
-This article tends to use a lot of blatant opinions with
facts backing them up.
-This article also tends to use small anecdotes to relate
the reader to the text.

Source 2: Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin -N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins

Author: Neil Hammerschlag, Margaret Basile, John Pablo, Deborah C. Mash
In this journal it essentially notes the health hazards associated with consuming any part of a shark. It
notes that there have been high traces of deathly toxins that could potentially kill its consumer due to
large scale bioaccumulation.
Page # Your Fastwrite Response
509-517
Direct quotes Believing: Everything in this article I tended to agree with.
- Sharks are apex predators in virtually all marine Mainly this is due to the fact that a lot of its claims were backed
environments and impact ecosystem structure and up with research and proof. I completely agree with the idea that
function through trophic cascades. sharks bioaccumulate toxins and other heavy metals because
- The larger the fin and higher fin needle content bioaccumulation happens in other animals/fish.
(collagen fibers), the more expensive the soup Doubting: There wasnt much that I truly doubted. However,
- The neurotoxin BMAA is produced by diverse species some create the counter argument that everything you eat will
of free-living cyanobacteria found in terrestrial and have bad things in them, and that consumption in only small
aquatic environments and cyanobacterial symbionts amounts may not harm the consumer.
- All seven shark species analyzed in this study had Look left, find something to respond to:
BMAA detected in high amounts in their fins. This article truly shocked me. I am in total belief of everything
Interestingly, high concentrations of BMAA were because all of it has been proven. The saddest part about this
detected in the fins of some sharks collected in areas that bioaccumulation is that is all human caused. Because of runoff
had no active cyanobacteria blooms from agricultural and other manufacturing plants, it gets into all
Paraphrases water systems and infects all aquatic life. There was not much
-BMMA is what develops Alzheimers and ALS that did not shock me in this article. The one thing that stood out
-This cyanobacteria is found mostly in aquatic areas. to me the most was the fact that even if there isnt a
- Since sharks have migratory patterns, even areas cyanobacterial bloom in an area it can (and most likely will) be
without this bacterial bloom, can still have an outbreak. transmitted to other water systems. This is especially due to the
Summaries of key ideas fact that sharks are migratory animals. With learning about this
This article essentially discusses data collected from cyanobacterial transmission it reminds me and causes me to
shark fins. With the samples of those fins researchers wonder about other diseases that are transmitted between sharks
discovered high levels of cynobacterial neurotoxins that and other aquatic life. It also causes me to wonder that if humans
have been accumulated from other fish that the shark do contract this neurodegenerative disease, could it possibly be a
eats. With humans consuming this shark, this neurotoxin growing epidemic for the human race.
is exposed in the human body. This toxin then leads to
neurodegenerative diseases.
Facts
-BMMA is linked to a number of degenerative diseases.
- Cyanobacteria are found in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and
marine life due to runoff.
- 1.7 million tons are killed in both target and by catch
fisheries to support the high demand for fins in Asian
markets
Claims
-High levels of BMMA are found in marine life
-These high levels are what could be potentially lethal to
marine lifes consumers
-Sharks accumulate other heavy toxins and metals that
are harmful to humans.
Phrases
-BMMA= cyanobacterial neurotoxin -N-methylamino-
L-alanine
- Cyanobacterial neurotoxins and degenerative diseases
in sharks
Formal and technical language
-The article phrases opinion by using research in
combination with other displays to show data such as
charts and graphs.
-By using technical terms followed by its simpler
means of language, it helps the reader get on the authors
level of understanding.

Source 3: Fisheries Ecology: Hunger for Shark Fin Soup Drives Clam Chowder off Menu
Author: Andrew S. Brierley
Your Fastwrite Response
Page #
R555-R557 Believing: In this journal I whole-heartedly believe everything. I
Direct quotes agree that with the shark population declining, it throws every
-Scalloped hammerheads and Quahogs are linked in the other aquatic ecosystem out of control. No matter if its a shark
food web off the east coast of the US and have both population declining, or even grasshopper population declining, it
suffered major declines as a consequence of fishing. affects every little thing more than anyone can imagine.
-These prey species are relatively large and are Doubting: I do not doubt much in this journal discovery. Not only
consumed almost exclusively by great sharks. is the information backed up with evidence, but from man
-The elasmobranch prey of the great sharks are ecological stand point it makes perfect sense.
themselves meso-predators; that is, they are predators Look left, find something to respond to:
occupying a mid-trophic level that prey in turn on To me I am astounded at the fact that even with overfishing being
animals further down the food web. a recent issue, it is already greatly affecting numerous aquatic
Paraphrases populations. Just one little disruption in these populations leads
-Due to predadation strain with sharks and their prey to a complete disruption in the food chain. It truly is a butterfly
being lifted, other species can grow more fruitfully. effect that I was unaware of. This issue reminds me of many
-This strain being lifted leads to other species declining other ecological issues like this. One issue in particular reminds
more rapidly. me of issues with honey bee populations. The fact that we are
-Since clams are naturally bottom feeders and eat debris, depleting the bees of honey faster than it can be made up for is
oceans have become dirtier with their decline. truly devastating. It truly makes me wonder how we can fix these
Summaries of key ideas issues when people still are ignorant of these problems.
Essentially, without clams, oceans would become dirty,
and full of debris. Since Shark Fin Soup has been in high
demand sharks have been dying faster than they can
reproduce. Thus, its preys population has skyrocketed;
subsequently leading to a large decline in clam
populations.
Facts
-The Cownose ray population has increased to more than
40 million.
-Trophic cascades can be predicted by food chains.
-11 species of shark has declined rapidly over the past
few years.
Claims
-Shark fin soup is causing a major disruption in
ecosystems.
-Sharks declining leads to clam populations declining.
-Fisheries need to be managed more properly to reduce
this trophic disaster.

Phrases
-Trophic level depletion with shark fin soup
-clam population shark fin soup

Formal and technical language

-With the author using numerous examples the reader
can connect the concepts in the examples to the content
provided.
-The author also uses examples to display that this issue
is not just with sharks, and it occurs with other
ecosystems. This allows the reader to think of questions
and issues themselves.
This journal covers how a higher demand for Shark Fin Soup leads to less demand for Clam Chowder.
Ultimately this leads to a crash in clam populations since their predators are not being eaten by the
sharks.
 Source 4:No more Shark Fin Soup for Hawaii
Author: Allison Gillespie

This article exposes a new law enacted in Hawaii regarding Shark Fin Soup. Hawaii declared it illegal
to sell, own, and distribute shark fins. This law caused quite a bit of disruption considering big
celebrities and other political figures spoke up about the issue.
Your Fastwrite Response
Page #
342 Believing: I believe the legislation enacted in this article is proper
Direct quotes and necessary. The only way we can truly relay to fishermen and
- The new law went into effect after a long legislative other people of this issue is to put it out into the world and create
battle that attracted worldwide attention, as professional laws.
sports celebrities, Hollywood movie stars, and prominent Doubting: The only thing I doubt with this law is the possibility
US politicians stepped forward to defend the marine that it wont be enacted. Even though it is a real law now, I feel
predators. that fishermen will still cut off fins and kill sharks.
- As arguments over the new law flared up this spring, Look left, find something to respond to:
some tried to defend the eating of shark fins as integral Before I read this article I thought that there was a possibility to
to Asian culture. finning sharks would be somewhat cultural. However, now I
- "Shark fin soup is not a staple item in China or disagree with this notion. I definitely feel that people who say
Anywhere else - it is enjoyed by an affluent few", argues that just use it as an excuse. As stated by this article, only a few
Inga Gibson, the Hawaii State Director for the Humane families can truly afford to eat this soup. Though it may have
Society of the United States (Honolulu). " been cultural in the past, I feel as if this is not a culture practiced
Paraphrases by anyone for the intentions it was originally created for. I also
-Shark fin soup is only popular among those who are believe that things change. There are plenty of hazardous cultural
well off in Asian culture. events practiced in the past that have been outlawed due to the
-Places like Holland worry that these laws will affect environmental effects.
their ability to do research.
-Many worry it will be a hard law to enact due to the fact
that the fish industry is so demanding.
Summaries of key ideas
Essentially this article is discussing a new law enacted in
Hawaii. It aims to prevent any sale or distribution of
shark fins as well as attempting to prohibit the
commercialization of the animal. Many argue that it is
unjust and a main component of Asian culture. This
however is not accurate since only very wealthy families
in Asia actually purchase this animal.
Facts
- Although accurate estimates are hard to generate,
research indicates that somewhere between 30 million
and 100 million sharks worldwide are killed annually for
their fins, which have become an increasingly popular
item on many upscale Asian menus.
-Hollywood stars and politicians were huge advocates to
save these shark fins.
- Hawaii enacted this law on July 1, 2010
Claims
-Hawaiis new law will contribute to the preservation of
sharks.
-Without such huge activism from celebrities and
politicians this law may have been impossible to enact.
-This legislation caused a huge uproar among many
communities internationally.
Phrases
-Shark Fin banning Hawaii
-Hawaii Sharks legislation
Formal and technical language
-This journal used facts to justify the legislation that took
place in Hawaii.
-The author also used a few quotations of dialogue to
display diversity of opinion to the reader.

Source 5: Shark Fin Soup KUScholars

Author: Randi Hacker
The purpose of this video clip was to raise awareness of shark fin soup. What is different about this clip
is that it was a Southeastern Asian advertisement. It was actually a conservation company who created
and developed the script.
Page # Your Fastwrite Response
This one is a video
Direct quotes Believing: I agree with everything this video is saying. It displays
-The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the exactly what I believe and it proves that Southeastern Asia is just
people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East as worried about the issue as the rest of the world.
Asia. Doubting: There wasnt anything I disagreed to in this article.
Lately, however, it is falling out of favor again but for Everything seemed to be credible and nothing sat wrong with me
environmental reasons rather than proletarian ones.
in this video.
Look left, find something to respond to:
Being associated with the reviled elite, the dish naturally
One thing that I really appreciated about this video is that it is
fell out of favor during the Maoist years but it experienced a
form Southeastern Asia. There is a huge misconception that since
return of popularity with the rise of the new middle class. it stems from Asian cultures, Asians do not care about finning.
Paraphrases This is clearly not true since it was a southeastern advertisement.
-Though many attribute shark fin soup with Asian I also wonder about what peoples opinions are around the
culture it has fallen out of popularity. coastal areas in Asia. I wonder if they have similar beliefs or
- The insult of the soup is that the fin actually does not different views since they are located on the coast and are more
add any flavor. It is truly just texture. integrated into the issue. At first when I read this article I thought
Summaries of key ideas that many Asians felt that finning was a cultural aspect, however
The purpose of this video was to be broadcasted to a after reading it I now know that it is certainly not remotely the
large number of Southeastern Asians. The main idea case.
behind it focused on the brutality these sharks face as
well as the sheer devastation they face. The video also
states that the culture is fading and falling out of favor of
this practice.
Facts
-This tradition has started to decline rapidly among the
Asian community.
-The tradition dates back thousands of years to the Song
Dynasty
-Shark Fin Soup was associated with wealth and riches.
Claims
-The harvesting of fins is horrific
-The emperor of the Song dynasty created it in honor of
his wealth
-The practices expressed in finning have no true value
and are insulting due to the fact that the fins have no
taste or nutritional value.
Phrases
-Shark Fin Soup Southeastern culture
- Asian Shark Fin Soup
Formal and technical language
-By using emotion to explain the process of finning the
reader can connect to the information on a sympathetic
level.
-The author also uses commanding words for persuasion.

Source 6: World News: Shark Fin Soup Advances Throughout Asia

Author: Jason Chow
Page # Your Fastwrite Response
1-2
Direct quotes
-The ban is the largest among a spate of similar moves
across Asia.
-The hotel said its banquet business hasn't suffered
since the ban was announced.
-About 95% of all shark fin is consumed within China,
according to marine conservation group WildAid.
Paraphrases
-The hotel lost quite a large amount of profit due to the
fact that they still decided to serve it.
-Many restaurants in China refused to serve the soup
because of the ban.
- Being over 400 dollars, the soup is seen as a status
symbol rather than a simple dish.
Summaries of key ideas
The main idea of this article was to display how bans on
shark fin soup affects restaurants and its people under the
law. For the most part restaurants decided to ban it.
However, even for some the legislation was not enough.
For one restaurant it cost them an entire night of sales to
realize they needed to abide by the rules.
Believing: I agree with this article to an extent. I completely
disagree with everything the restaurant did after the ban. There is
absolutely no way they still should have served the soup.
Doubting: As stated before I do not agree with that restaurant still
serving the soup. Not only is it illegal, but it is completely
wasteful and unethical.
Look left, find something to respond to:
Reading this article made me wonder if Shark Fin Soup being
banned will actually make a difference. This restaurant is just one
example. Even though there was a ban in their area, they still
decided to serve it. Other places even kept it on the menu and
only served upon request. That is absolutely ridiculous. Making it
illegal is not a suggestion it is command. It makes me wonder if
penalizing people more harshly is what it may have to take.
Before I thought it may have been a bit extreme to send those to
jail for serving the soup, however now I am beginning to second
guess my previous opinion.
Facts
-In December 2010, the restaurant removed the item and
only served it upon request
-Shark finning has depleted the shark population
-The soup can cost upwards of 400 dollars.
Claims
-Shark Fin soup is in huge opposition for many
restaurants in china
-Environmental groups in China are growing for Shark
Fins
-It is ridiculous that one restaurant is not taking the soup
off the dish.
Phrases
-Shark Fin Soup Asia
- Restaurant Asia Finning
Formal and technical language
-By using explanatory tactics the author readily relays to
the reader of situations within places once the ban is
enacted.
This article is about the spread of legislation bans on Shark Fin Soup. Lately Shark Fin Soup has been
banned in multiple places all over Southeast Asia. When one restaurant decided to serve it, quite the
controversy arose.

Source 7: How to Stop Killer Cravings for Shark Fin Soup: Neil Hammerschlag at TEDxMIA 2012
Framing the Future
Author: Neil Hammerschalg
This video is about Neil Hammerschlags experiences with sharks. He discusses many misconceptions
people have with sharks as well as the horrors of finning.
Your Fastwrite Response
Page #
This is a video Believing: Everything Neil said I agreed with. He was passionate
Direct quotes about saving the sharks and he completely put emotion into his
-The exact number of sharks removed from the ocean speech. The way he was able to move those into believing what
each year by humans is unknown. A study by Shelley he believed was truly amazing.
Clare and Colleagues, published in 2006, estimated that Doubting: There was nothing I doubted about his speech. I
the fins of between 26 and 73 million sharks that are agreed with everything he said. I too believe we need to raise
killed per year. awareness about these beautiful creatures.
-Most of these sharks are going into soup. Look left, find something to respond to:
-In most cases the sharks are brought towards the boat, One thing that definitely stood out to me was when Neil was
their fins are hacked off, and the rest of the shark is describing the mutilation of the sharks. He told of how their fins
thrown mutilated back into the ocean. are hacked off and just thrown back into the ocean. I also was
Paraphrases touched by the way he talked about someone he knew with
-BMA is in sharks that has lead neurological diseases. Alzheimers. By telling this story and how there is a certain toxin
-Sharks add mystery and diversity into the ocean. in the shark fin that connects BMA to disease truly touched the
-Education and awareness of shark fin soup is extremely audience. I also agreed with what he said about sharks being a
important. beautiful creature. Not only do they add to the diversity of the
Summaries of key ideas ocean, and keep up the food chain, but they are truly majestic.
This Ted Talk focused on the importance of conservation There is a reason that Shark Week is an actual thing. People are
of Shark Fin Soup. Not only are there neurological fascinated by beauty and that is what I believe these sharks are.
disorders linked to the consumption of the soup, but it is They are beautiful. The funny thing is at first I liked sharks, but
rapidly depleting the diversity and wildlife in our through my research I have found myself growing to love them
ecosystems. more and more.
Facts
-75 people were bitten by sharks in 2011 where as 1600
people were bitten by other people in that same year.
-The US is one of the top 15 countries that exports shark
fins
-Sharks eat the diseased, dead, dying, and dumb fish.
Claims
-Sharks are important apex predators.
-Sharks should be taken off the menu
Phrases
-Ted Talks Shark Fin Soup
-Neil Shark Fin Soup
Formal and technical language
-By being inviting and very outgoing with his
discussions, the speaker is able to captivate the audience.
- He also uses funny stories to help connect readers.

Source 8: China to Ban Shark Fin Soup at State Events

Author: Bettina Wassener
This article is about the shark finning industry in China.. Recently China has made a ban at all events to
not serve shark fin soup.
Page #
1
Direct quotes
- The ban, reported by Xinhua, the state-run news
agency, could take as many as three years to take effect,
and it remains unclear how widely it will be adhered to
across a sprawling nation where orders issued by Beijing
are often shrugged off by officials in faraway regions
and provinces.
Stan Shea, a project coordinator in Hong
Kong at Bloom Association, a marine conservation
organization, likewise welcomed the policy change,
saying it represented a ''big step'' to
help shark populations.
Retailers in Hong Kong, the main hub for the
international trade in the fins, charge more than 2,000
Hong Kong dollars, or $260, per catty, a traditional
weight measure commonly used in markets here.
Your Fastwrite Response
Believing: I believe what this article is doing is for the better. I
completely agree with the statewide ban, and I hope to see it
increase and integrate into other areas.
Doubting: The only thing that makes me somewhat doubt this
ban is that they state it will take about three years to enact. Does
this mean it will take a while for places to stop production?
Furthermore this raises my suspicion that it will be easy to ban
this soup in multiple places.
Look left, find something to respond to:
I think what this ruling is doing is absolutely amazing. I
completely feel like this is the only logical step. At first I was
hesitant to believe in nationwide bans, however, now I am all for
it. After reading what really goes into this soup makes me
appreciate rulings like these. I also wonder how strictly they will
enforce this ruling. In the past some laws have been known to
have not been taken seriously nor followed.
Paraphrases
-Being able to ban Shark Fin soup has led many in the
right direction.
- An increasing number of people have started to be able
to afford the dish due to the economic growth.
- Environmentalists believe that the number of
endangered species of shark should display higher on
websites than what they are.
Summaries of key ideas
The main idea of this article was to display the
progression that China has undergone. With the ban at
state events, it opens the door to further legislative
practices. This article also shows how people feel about
the issue as well how they are adjusting.
Facts
-Through international trade, fins cost more than 2000
dollars.
- Several American states, including California, have
banned the possession, sale and distribution
of shark fins.
-The ban could take approximately three years to enact.

Claims
-Shark Fin Soup banning is a positive step in the right
direction.
-It will be a long adjustment especially for those who sell
shark fin soup regularly.
- This will set the stage for other companies that sell
shark fin soup.
Phrases
-Shark Fin Soup Ban Asia
-Shark Fin Soup Ban Statewide
Formal and technical language
-The author used description in describing the
legislation as well as examples of human adjustment to
help the reader understand the ruling.

SLO CONNECTION
In this activity I learned the composing process. By review, revising, collaborating, and researching, I
was able to conduct actual processes that lead me to the right journals needed. I also was able to deepen
my knowledge of the source I was using by fast writing. This allowed me to mentally pour out
everything I was thinking about that particular topic and get out what I truly feel. With this project I
also needed to use critical reading. If I could not read critically I would not know which sources would
be appropriate to use or not.