Debunking the “non-myth” in the myth! Is the shark fin of the shark commander in “Nezha 2” really delicious?

In the vast ocean, sharks, known as the "king of the sea", are found in all oceans of the world. There are many types of sharks, with at least 350 species in the world's oceans, and more than 70 species in China's waters. Most sharks are beneficial to humans and harmless. In the 450 million years of evolution, sharks have evolved survival skills comparable to the Hun Tian Ling. The T-shaped head of the hammerhead shark is a natural sonar array that can capture heartbeats 10 kilometers away; the Lorenz ampulla of the great white shark can sense an electric field of 0.005 microvolts, which is a thousand times more accurate than the most sensitive detector; the skin of deep-sea sharks is covered with tiny shield scales, and its fluid mechanics properties have amazed NASA engineers.

These ocean overlords maintain a fragile ecological balance. Oceanic whitetip sharks control the tuna population, tiger sharks curb the over-breeding of sea turtles, and nurse sharks keep coral reefs clean. But now, one-third of the world's 368 shark species are on the verge of extinction, and this ecological barrier that has been maintained for 400 million years is collapsing.

Shark fins are often referred to as "shark fins" in the folk. As one of China's traditional precious foods, it was first seen in "Song Hui Yao" and is one of the delicacies of the mountains and the sea. The "fin" in "abalone, ginseng, shark fin and belly" refers to shark fins. Shark fins are made from shark fins and are usually cooked into shark fin soup with chicken soup. In the kitchen of a high-end restaurant, the chef is preparing "Tianjiu Fins", a top-grade shark fin taken from whale sharks that sells for more than 10,000 yuan per kilogram. The behemoth with its dorsal fin, pectoral fin and tail fin cut off is still twitching, and its body will be thrown back into the sea - because the transportation cost of fish meat, which accounts for 95% of its body weight, is too high. This scene is repeated 73 million times a year, which is equivalent to 14 sharks being tortured every minute. Sharks without fins are thrown back into the sea again. These sharks that have been killed cannot swim without fins and can only sink to the bottom of the sea and die tragically. Because the huge profits from shark fins have caused countless sharks to be killed, the international community has issued a clear ban on the killing of sharks.

Modern science has completely shattered the nutritional myth of shark fin. Laboratory tests show that shark fin does not have any special nutritional value. The protein content of shark fin is lower than that of eggs, the collagen absorption rate is less than 3%, and the mercury content is 42 times higher than the standard. Those who think that shark fin can prolong life believe that shark fin is rich in essential amino acids for the human body, which is also exaggerated. There are 8 essential amino acids for the human body, which cannot be synthesized by the human body itself. Instead, they must be supplemented by consuming food. Shark fin contains only a very small amount of essential amino acids. If you want to supplement essential amino acids by eating shark fin, it is more economical to eat eggs and milk.

The turning point began with the scientific awakening and generational cognitive change in the 21st century. On December 18, 2009, Yao Ming, the "Shark Protection Ambassador", held a ceremony in Shanghai to launch the "Join Hands Together, Infinite Vitality - Yao Ming and the American Wildlife Rescue Association Shark Protection Public Service Advertisement Global Release". At the ceremony, Yao Ming and the Shanghai Men's Basketball Team solemnly issued a declaration: "Refuse to eat shark fins, protect wild animals, start with me!" Since 2013, shark fin soup has been permanently removed from the Chinese state banquet menu, marking the inclusion of ecological civilization into the national governance system.

Modern technology is creating more sustainable alternatives: Singaporean scientists have used fungal fermentation to produce "vegetarian shark fins" with exactly the same molecular structure, and Chinese aquatic products companies have successfully cultivated bionic shark fin tissue. These innovations prove that humans are fully capable of continuing cultural traditions in a civilized way. The "vegetarian shark fins" developed by a Shenzhen technology company use konjac polysaccharides to replicate the crystal texture of fin needles, and Tmall's annual sales have exceeded 500,000 pieces. The Qingdao Oceanarium's shark adoption program allows post-00s to observe released lemon sharks through VR. my country has listed eight species of sharks, including white sharks and whale sharks, as first-class protection since 2022, and illegal fishing can be sentenced to up to 10 years.

When we look at sharks again - these ancient creatures that survived the extinction of dinosaurs but may disappear from human tables - we will find that they are not demons, but the immune system of the ocean. Every shark saved is injecting vitality into the earth's ecosystem. Refusing shark fins is not a renunciation of deliciousness, but a step for civilization to leap forward: humans have finally learned to be respectful when asking for things and to keep the bottom line in development. This may be the most important awakening moment for our species on the road of evolution. When Nezha used the lotus to reshape his true body, the sharks whose fins we cut off no longer had Taiyi Zhenren to give them a new life.

References:

[1] Chu Yuwei. Shark fin is less nutritious than eggs and milk[J]. Kang Yi.

[2] Yang Shaoling. Analysis and evaluation of amino acid and fatty acid composition in natural shark fin needles[J]. Food Industry Science and Technology.

[3] Fu Zhen. The way and inspiration of spreading Chinese food culture in Fuchsia Dunlop's "Shark's Fin and Sichuan Peppercorn"[D].