It's a truth as fundamental as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west: even minor changes in an ecosystem can and will have profound and unexpected results.
Sharks have a vital place in the ecosystems of the world's oceans. Thanks to Hollywood and our own overactive imaginations, it's easy to cast them as the villianous, scary predators of the seas but in reality, sharks play a role so critical that without them, the very health of the planet could be at risk.
When shark populations are dramatically reduced - as many scientists say is now occurring in large part due to the demand for their fins in shark-fin soup - other species are dramatically affected. When the top predator is removed, lower rings of the ecosystem increase in population, which then puts excess demand on the next lower level - and so on, and so on, until even the smallest forms of life and the environment itself is affected in ways we can't always predict.
This is not a simple question of commerce or tradition, but a debate that impacts every corner of the globe.
When we see a dramatically negative effect from human causes that can be easily altered, do we step up and make it happen, or do we turn away and ignore it?
If we care about the health of the planet, the only answer can be to tackle the issue and do all we can to change the tide of events.
As cities around the globe stand up and make a statement against shark finning - like Burnaby, Richmond and Vancouver are considering doing right now - it adds to the collective voice demanding change.
But that's only part of the equation. No matter what happens at the municipal level, it all comes down to supply and demand - and when there is no longer a demand, the supply won't be needed. We hope these actions by local cities will lead people around the world to take a second look at the ultimate cost of shark-fin soup and make this delicacy a thing of the past.
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