No Shark Fin, you can tahan a not?

[AhJason]

I think it's difficult to shake off the Shark Fin mentality, especially in Chinese Wedding Dinners!

 

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC12...-of-sharks-fins

 

SINGAPORE - A series of anti-shark's fin campaigns by various groups are taking place islandwide over the next few months with a common goal: To make Singapore fin-free in the near term.

 

The advocates are arguing for a ban on trade of the popular dish and its consumption at official banquets and functions. They are also hoping to persuade Chinese restaurants here to remove the dish from their menus and corporate events.

 

Two communities - Chong Pang and Canberra under Nee Soon GRC - have banned the dish from being served at official functions.

 

Two weeks ago, the No Sharks Fins Singapore campaign was the first to launch here, organised by avid diver Michael Aw. After garnering enthusiastic support - 80,000 responses at an online petition earlier in January - organisers decided to take it a step further.

 

They hope to persuade all Chinese restaurants here to remove this dish - considered a traditional Chinese delicacy - by next year and will be conducting outreach programmes at schools. Non-profit organisations like World Wildlife Fund campaign are lending their weight behind this campaign.

 

Another group, Shark Savers, is due to embark on four campaigns over the next few months, with the end goal of persuading the authorities to impose a trade ban as well as a ban of the dish at official functions.

 

Speaking to Today, Mr Jonn Lu, who is leading efforts of the international shark conservation group, said that, while no other country in this region has imposed a total trade ban, Singapore is well positioned to be the first.

 

"To date, no country with a significant stake in this industry, be it a fishing, trading or a consumptive one, has done anything to protect sharks. Herein lies a golden opportunity for the Singapore Government to come across as a thought and policy leader," he said.

 

Last year, Singapore imported about 3,500 tonnes of shark's fin, 40 per cent more than the previous year. Explaining that in the past the focus was on education, Mr Lu said now there is little time for these efforts to bear fruit - hence the call for a ban.

 

According to Mr Lu, those from within the trading industry have estimated that sharks face extinction within a decade, while scientists give estimates of about 20 years.

 

Worldwide estimates are that about 100 million sharks are killed for their fins each year, although scientists are not sure. Internationally, calls for bans from environmentalists have met with limited success.

 

To date, only five states in the United States have passed Bills banning the sale, trade and possession of shark's fins. California - the biggest market for this trade outside Asia - became the latest to implement the ban starting in January this year.

 

In China, negotiations are on-going for a trade and banqueting ban, said Mr Lu. According to reports, a legislation proposal for the latter was drawn up this year.

 

When contacted about the possibility of a ban here, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said that "it will continue to monitor the conservation status of sharks and restrict trade in any species, which is endangered".

 

A spokesman added that Singa-pore follows the lead of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which decides every three years if an animal is threatened with extinction.

 

In recent months, a string of local supermarkets, such as FairPrice and Carrefour, and hotels like Shangri-La pledged to stop serving or selling the dish.

 

Shark Savers' efforts to spread its cause among the community here will focus on those aged between 10 to 45 years. The campaigns here will focus on social media, short '101' lessons held within the community to educate people on sharks, a Shark Aid concert, as well as print and television advertisements.

 

As to chances of winning enough support to successfully call for a ban, Mr Lu is optimistic as people now are "more interested than they were 10 to 15 years ago".

 

He warned that loss of sharks as apex predators could lead to a "cascading effect" on wild fish stocks and commercial fisheries.

 

"We need to save them now for selfish reasons: Being apex predators, they are absolutely critical in the maintenance of balance and harmony within food pyramids and food webs," he added.

[CheongAhh]

These people campaigning for various causes, such as this 'Shark Savers' - are they paid a salary to campaign for such things? Or is this a volunteery cause?

[Fcw75]

Ask these advocates to stop pushing their view on us lah. Some of them just want to jump onto the bandwagon to be 'one of them' and be cool.

 

We choose what we want to eat. If ever I kenna one of these, I sure don't give face and fark him back.

[Mockngbrd]

i'd support it.

[Wasted]

R.i.P to all the sharks ....

[Babyt]

but im sure other than fins, they do kill the sharks for other things right? like cartilage oil etc?

 

im fine if i dont eat shark fin.

 

if we can banned chewing gum, a cheap candy everyone can eat, why not shark fin? shark fin is expensive and u dont eat everyday like chewing gums.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Babyt

[Sunny]

i think it's harsh to ban totally.

just controlling on imports, make less available in the retailers, hotel no pushing sales as menu in wedding banquets, etc

slowly people will change mind

just like wat our govt did on smoking..in stages :x

[LoverofCar]

I like shark meat....with salted veg...shiok...are they going to ban it too?

[Tjkbeluga]

Will there be COE for sharks fin next?

[Pltang]

save $ save shark....

[Ender]

go and ask their ang mo friend to ban goose liver 1st before they impose their views on us chinese.

[Darthrevan]

Ask these advocates to stop pushing their view on us lah. Some of them just want to jump onto the bandwagon to be 'one of them' and be cool.

 

We choose what we want to eat. If ever I kenna one of these, I sure don't give face and fark him back.

 

these pple probably thinks that supporting an ang moh initiative is cool

[questionedfish]

Those who say stop eating shark fin should be vegetarian.

 

There are legitimate sources for shark fin. All the big hoo hahs is because of sharks being endanger due to illegal killing and unproper disposal of sharks (thrown into sea and slowly die).

 

If there is legal and proper way of killing sharks, i dont see why it should be banned??

[Stratovarius]

i'd support it.

I agree. Most of my friends are opting out the shark's fin soup for their banquet and i appreicate that. No doubt some elders might not be happy about it but we can look for other alternatives like SFI's mock shark's fin soup.

[Maka]

How to ban when its so lucrative? Same like cigarettes, ban smoke here and there why not just ban sales? [laugh]

 

Maybe this could be another $$$ making exercise to raise the price of sharkfin sold in SG with 1000% tax on every sharkfin sold.

[Mustank]

cant be bothered. got, i eat. dont have, i dont care.

[Mockngbrd]

Those who say stop eating shark fin should be vegetarian.

 

There are legitimate sources for shark fin. All the big hoo hahs is because of sharks being endanger due to illegal killing and unproper disposal of sharks (thrown into sea and slowly die).

 

If there is legal and proper way of killing sharks, i dont see why it should be banned??

 

problem is, unlike other animals which can be farmed, sharks cannot be farmed. And they take a long time to grow, giving birth in small numbers only.

the issue imo, is not really about being vegan or whatever, it's about sustainability, which most ppl don't seem to get.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Mockngbrd

[Donut]

I like shark meat....with salted veg...shiok...are they going to ban it too?

 

Are u a teochew?