Shark fins displayed in the window of a restaurant in central Bangkok, Thailand.

---

Shark fins are a very expensive commodity and are frequently obtained by removing the fin from the living fish and returning the fish to the ocean where it dies because it is now unable to swim. Shark populations have been severely reduced in recent years, disturbing the marine ecosystem. Shark finning is banned in many countries, but shark fin soup is regarded as a luxurious delicacy with supposed medicinal properties by many Chinese people. Medicinal benefits have not been verified but shark fins are a source of beta-Methylamino-L-alanine which acts as a neaurotoxin and is asociated with ALS and other neurological disorders.

---

Size: 5511px × 3679px
Location: central Bangkok, Thailand, South East Asia,
Photo credit: © Julian Nieman / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: amyotrophic, bangkok, banned, beta-methylamino--alanine, bmaa, chinese, conservation, cure-, delicacy, display, ecology, ecosystem, endangered, exotic, exploitation, fin, fish, food, lateral, luxury, marine, medicinal, ocean, restaurant, sclerosis, shark, sharks, soup, thailand, threatened, wildlife, window