Shark fin soup

Shark fin soup
Alternative namesShark's fin soup
TypeSoup
Place of originChina
Main ingredientsShark fins, broth
Shark fin soup
Traditional Chinese魚翅羹
Simplified Chinese鱼翅羹
Literal meaning"fish fin stew"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinyúchì gēng
Wade–Giles2-ch'ih4 keng1
IPA[y̌.ʈʂʰɨ̂ kə́ŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationyùh-chi gāng
Jyutpingjyu4-ci3 gang1
IPA[jy˩.tsʰi˧ kɐŋ˥]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJhî-tshì kng, hû-tshì kng

Shark fin soup is a soup or stewed dish served in parts of China, Taiwan,[1][2] and Southeast Asia.[3] The shark fins provide texture, while the taste comes from the other ingredients.[4] It is commonly served at special occasions such as weddings and banquets, or as a luxury item.[4]

It has been condemned by the Humane Society International, which states that approximately 72 million sharks are killed each year for their fins.[5] Currently, international concerns over the sustainability and welfare of sharks have impacted consumption and availability of the soup worldwide.[6] Recently, health concerns about the high concentration of BMAA in shark fins have arisen.

Shark fin soup substitutes have lately appeared on the market which do not require any shark fins,[7][8] thus avoiding the environmental damage caused by the shark finning practice.

  1. ^ Simon Denyer (2018). "Even as China turns away from shark fin soup, the prestige dish is gaining popularity elsewhere in Asia". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ Adam Sweeting (17 January 2011). "Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait/ Dispatches: Fish Unwrapped, Channel 4". The Arts Desk.
  3. ^ Saeed Kamali Dehghan (4 June 2019). "Marine 'gold rush': demand for shark fin soup drives decimation of fish". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Keith Bradsher, Disneyland in China Offers a Soup and Lands in a Stew, 17 June 2005 The New York Times
  5. ^ Shark Finning. Humane Society International.
  6. ^ "In China, victory for wildlife conservation as citizens persuaded to give up shark fin soup - The Washington Post". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Faux Fins And Mock Meat: Is Clean Meat The Answer To Reforming Shark Fin And Foie Gras?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
  8. ^ Alpha Food Lab Faux fin