Is shark cartilage good for anything really?

No good data: Shark cartilage is a nutritional supplement thought to possibly be helpful for arthritis do to its naturally high level of chondroitin. Unfortunately, I have not seen any compelling scientific evidence of its effectiveness. Chondroitin, in general, has not proven largely effective either, likely due to the fact that it is very unstable in our acidic stomach environment.

Social Status: Medicinal claims associated with shark fin (cartilage) have not been scientifically substantiated at this time. There is a health risk in ingesting shark fins. It is a predator fish with of high levels of bmaa (neurotoxin), arsenic & methylmercury. Because shark fin is very expensive, eating it is considered a status symbol for some asians.