Hong Kong's Shark Fin Trade Draws Protest from Activists
- 12 years ago
For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2
Animal rights activists in Hong Kong are bringing attention to the world's largest shark fin trade. Attitudes about the pricey delicacy, considered to have medicinal properties, are changing. Here's more.
Hong Kong, the center of the world's shark-fin trade, has garnered the attention of animal rights activists as shark populations rapidly decline.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) the global trade of shark fins has drastically increased in recent years, growing about 5% a year, with an estimated over 72 million sharks killed every year.
[...]
[...]
The fins are popularly used in soup across Asia, where a kilogram of shark fin powder can fetch anywhere from $25 up to $1,290. Traditionally, shark fin has been considered to have medicinal value, but now attitudes about the trade are changing.
[Keith Wong, Guitarist]:
"I like it very much. Of course it's very healthy as well, but actually there is many substitutes as well and the taste can be replaced by some fake shark soup I think."
[Arthur Lim, Office Worker]:
"In my opinion that should be banned, because the way they get the fins is not really humanize (sic). Yes, so I think we should not eat that."
Illegal shark fishing practices include finning, when captured sharks have their fins removed, often while they are still alive, and the dying bodies are dumped back into the sea. The United States, Canada, Brazil, Namibia, South Africa and the European Union have already banned this practice.
Activists ar e hoping that raising awareness will help Hong Kong to take official steps to limit or ban the trade. One of Hong Kong's most prestigious hotel chains, the Peninsula Group, took shark soup off their menu at the beginning of this year. Over one hundred other restaurants have also taken similar measures.
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2
Animal rights activists in Hong Kong are bringing attention to the world's largest shark fin trade. Attitudes about the pricey delicacy, considered to have medicinal properties, are changing. Here's more.
Hong Kong, the center of the world's shark-fin trade, has garnered the attention of animal rights activists as shark populations rapidly decline.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) the global trade of shark fins has drastically increased in recent years, growing about 5% a year, with an estimated over 72 million sharks killed every year.
[...]
[...]
The fins are popularly used in soup across Asia, where a kilogram of shark fin powder can fetch anywhere from $25 up to $1,290. Traditionally, shark fin has been considered to have medicinal value, but now attitudes about the trade are changing.
[Keith Wong, Guitarist]:
"I like it very much. Of course it's very healthy as well, but actually there is many substitutes as well and the taste can be replaced by some fake shark soup I think."
[Arthur Lim, Office Worker]:
"In my opinion that should be banned, because the way they get the fins is not really humanize (sic). Yes, so I think we should not eat that."
Illegal shark fishing practices include finning, when captured sharks have their fins removed, often while they are still alive, and the dying bodies are dumped back into the sea. The United States, Canada, Brazil, Namibia, South Africa and the European Union have already banned this practice.
Activists ar e hoping that raising awareness will help Hong Kong to take official steps to limit or ban the trade. One of Hong Kong's most prestigious hotel chains, the Peninsula Group, took shark soup off their menu at the beginning of this year. Over one hundred other restaurants have also taken similar measures.