Shark Shock

As a diver, I appreciated your attention to water activities in the Asia-Pacific Special issue, particularly in Barbie Ludovise’s story, “In Deep,” (July 23). Your focus on the underwater environment was a pleasant change.

I was shocked, therefore, when reading an accompanying article, “3.3 days, 10 Meals,” in which the writer/eater recommended that one sample the shark fin soup, a Singaporean specialty. Is Mark Jenkins so ignorant as to not realize that the rest of the shark is discarded? The practice of hooking sharks for their fins is akin to that of attacking elephants for their tusks. Because one happens to be under the water’s surface makes the act no less senseless.

Sharks may be primitive beasts but they are also among the most graceful, glorious creatures I’ve known. Don’t promote stupidity.

HILARY CEJKA

Lomita