How to be proactive in stopping sharks fin being sold Options

[Drew]

We all know how much damage the sharks fin trade has done to the shark population in the oceans. And I'm sure the majority of us would never touch the stuff (I admittedly have 20 years ago as a kid). However the population at large, especially the noveau riche chinese and VERY established Hong Kong crowd, don't even know or care about things like this. This is even more true now in this economic climate. I realized this when I was going to eat at a chinese restaurant yesterday. This particular restaurant wasn't the typical cantonese style restaurant that automatically serves shark fins. However, I always ask if they do have sharks fin on the menu before I go in. If they do, I would politely say that I won't patronize a restaurant which does serve shark fin. If they ask for an explanation, I'll go into further detail. My friend was surprised I'd do this but after discussion she thought it is a good way to be vocally supportive. I was reminded of this act by a friend who works in conservation. I would normally mull in silent protest and the chinese restaurants would not know or miss my money. By telling them, they now know that there is at least one customer not willing to go to the restaurant because of their menu.
I do think it is time for people who support for conservation to be more proactive. The live seafood trade and sharks fin trade is rife is asia and anywhere there are chinese restaurants. Find out if the live reef fish in the tanks are endangered and let the proprietor know you won't support them if they continue to serve the food.
So if I may make a suggestion to our readers in the holiday season to make an extra effort from now on when you pass a chinese restaurant. Walk by, check the menu and let your voice be heard. To quote Wild Aid's campaign " when the buying stops, the killing will too."
In confession, this suggestion is motivated by very selfish reasons. I'm tired of the crappy chinese food I have to suffer at chinese restaurants that don't serve sharks fin. It would seem the best chinese food is served at the popular chinese restos which unfortunately have to cater to the chinese population by serving sharks fin. The same for live reef fish.
Happy holidays.
PS: Just so you don't think I'm just picking on the chinese, I'll be following up with Patagonia Toothfish (Chilean Seabass) very soon.

[jeremypayne]

DREW: "I do think it is time for people who support for conservation to be more proactive."

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm gonna start calling the NYC restaurants. Please join in ...

http://www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/...s_shark_fin.htm

Please contact the restaurants in the link and ask that they stop sales of any products containing shark fins:

Reason for edit: Edited for length

[M_Bipartitus]

Thank you for this list. I've realized one location I have been to several times is on the list. I will have to bring this up with them.

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm gonna start calling the NYC restaurants. Please join in ...

http://www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/...s_shark_fin.htm

Please contact the restaurants in the link and ask that they stop sales of any products containing shark fins:

[syam]

Hi

I have a suggestion, I think all divers should make an effort to avoid staying at hotels that serve shark fin soup. I'm not sure whether Wetpixel members are aware of this, most 5-star luxury hotels in Asia Pacific region serve sharkfin soup in their hotel's Chinese restaurant. What I wish t to see is that the hotels would take the lead in NOT serving sharkfin soup in their hotels & inform the public of their action in order to show off their environmentally aware practice. Hopefully with this, the public will stop associating eating shark fins soup with prestige and luxury. Once people STOP thinking that eating shark fins soup is prestigious then the demand will stop. We must associate eating shark fin soup as environmentally irresponsible, ignorant, backward and uncivilized. The younger Chinese generation, whether they live in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia or Singapore, would loath to be labeled as backward, so I think we should start from that idea.

Below is a list of 10 top hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that serves sharkfin soup

Hotel Name, Restaurant Name, Menu
1 Mandarin Oriental, Lai Poo Heen, Shark’s fin and Bird’s NestStewed superior shark's fin with crab claw in abalone broth. Braised superior shark's fin with bird’s nest broth

2 Shangri-La KL, Shang Palace, Braised Shark’s Fin Soup served with Bean Sprouts and Chinese Parsley

3 The Hilton KL, Chynna, Braised Egg Treasure with Scallop (thick soup). Double-Braised with Sundried Scallop (clear soup)

4 Hotel Equatorial, Golden Phoenix, Shark, duck and venison – they're part of an array of culinary creations at the Golden Phoenix

5 Nikko Hotel, Toh Lee, Sharks fin soup, many style

6 Renaissance Kuala Lumpur, Dynasty, Sharks fin soup, Cantonese cuisine

7 The Ritz Carlton, Li Yen, Sharks fin soup - double boiled, braised with crab meat, chicken etc

8 JW Marriott Hotel, Shanghai Restaurant, Sharks fin soup - double boiled, chicken & ham, braised

9 Prince Hotel, Tai Zee Hin, Pearl Sharkfin, Superior Sharkfin, Double-Boiled Sharkfin with Vegetables

10 Parkroyal Hotel, Si Chuan Dou Hua, Sharks fin soup


If you are planning to travel to KL, please enquire whether the hotel you will be staying in includes eating shark fin soup in their dining experience. If they do I urge you to divert your accommodation plans to hotels that doesn’t serve shark fin soup such as Le Meridien or The Westin, Kuala Lumpur.

I also hope Wetpixel members could make a list of top hotels in Singapore, Jakarta, Hanoi, Bangkok, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other Asian cities that serve shark fin soup. Shark killings can only be stopped from the demand side not on the supply side. This dawned on me on my diving trip to Mabul last Christmas break.

The diving was great but what I saw on the topside one afternoon made me realize that the way we try to stop shark killings is far from enough. Right in the middle of the Bajau fisherman village, in between the budget homestays that cater for divers, a group of fisherman was hauling in their shark catch. I counted more than 20 sharks of various species including Mako, Grey Reef and Silvertip, were being prepared for the export market, fins removed, their bodies cut into identical smaller chunks. (see attached pictures)

What struck me was that these people were not starving poor, they had basic homes on stilts, with 24 hours electricity from the generator, and fresh water pumped from the well on the island. So the idea of providing them with alternative and sustainable source of income like growing seaweed or rearing fish or pearl farming, as a way for them to stop catching sharks will not work. They choose to catch sharks because it makes them more money. If one night of fishing with long-lines and 5-inch fish hooks can earn them a few hundred dollars, why would they bother with other kind of work. Shark killing cannot be stopped from the supply side with quotas, enactment of laws or education of the fishermen. It must be stopped from the demand side. When demand falls, so will the price and the incentive for these fishermen to catch sharks will no longer be there.