Despite the fact Toronto, the most populous city in Canada, banned shark finning, there is still talk of illegal shark fin products being purchased outside of the Greater Toronto Area and distributed within.  As I said in my previous article, “Toronto Bans Shark Fin Soup,” the issue will have to be brought to a federal forum to really tackle the entire country’s consumption of shark fin products.

NDP MP, Fin Donnelly has been a figurehead in this movement.  Speaking with Chinese business associations, political groups and collecting 3000 signatures for a petition to ban the trade of shark fin soup with Canada.  “If you want to get at shark finning, which is what many would understand as a very inhuman practice, then this [import ban] is one of the best ways to get at it.”  

Banning the import of shark fin products to Canada entirely, will help raise awareness on this tragic and inhuman practice.  If an entire country, like Canada were to contraband shark fin products, it would definitely raise political concern and pressure other Western-countries to criminalize the shark fin market.

Although Canada has made shark finning illegal in its’ domestic waters, it still allows for the import of products.  Specifically, Hong Kong and Japan are the largest consumers of shark fin soup, Canada being one of the smallest still imports 77 000 kilograms of shark fin products per annum.

Any efforts made towards halting the global slaughtering of sharks could help increase populations.  On average, between 26-73 million shark fins are traded every year, causing a steep decline in populations because of shark’s slow reproduction.

Please make efforts to sign any petitions regarding the ban of shark finning.  Loosing an apex predator that has survived unchallenged and unchanged for millennia will be a tragic loss with devastating repercussions.  Some species of sharks will be extinct in less than a decade if nothing is done.  Let’s not let the problem get so awful, that there will be no sharks for people even to greed over.  

By literally taking away the market, the cash flow and a reason to kill sharks will slow.  Hopefully a plan that will inspire other countries to look towards conservation efforts regarding shark finning.  If these were prides of endangered African lions being murdered for a body part, or elephants for ivory, the market for products would not have survived into the 21st century.  

Let’s start showing the ocean the same respect we show land – or sadly prove the mass majority of humans are really incapable of rational and responsible thought process, removing biases for selfishness.   We, as an “evolved” species should have the insight and evolutional progress to make us aware of the devastation we are capable of, and the responsibility that comes with that.

In October, 2011, 300 citizens showed up at Toronto City Hall to protest a bylaw to outlaw the possession and sale of shark fin soup.  What I don't get about protesting shark finning, is people want shark fin soup, it's special in certain cultures for weddings and ceremonies.  But do people not understand that if sharks are continued to be caught in such massive numbers that there won't be anything to debate because there will be no sharks left?

Shark finning is violent and cruel.  It involves hacking off a sharks fins and then throwing its stump of a body left overboard.  Sharks need to move to breathe oxygen, the streamline of their body allows their gills to take in oxygen as they move forward.  Without fins, sharks sink slowly into the abyss drowning, while bleeding out and attracting any predators that may be nearby.  

The Toronto Chinese Business Association (TCBA) calls the bylaw "unfair," almost placing a discriminatory context to the situation (which has nothing to do with cultural differences) only the well being of our planet.  They went on to say that the issue should not be taken up by City Council, and taken to the federal government (where we can waste more valuable time and money on an issue we already know is wrong). 

Although justified in their reasoning, "shark finning is legal in Canada and products are commonly consumed by Canadians."  Okay - fair enough - let's just outlaw importing shark fin merchandise entirely then and you loose your leg to stand on!  One of the members of the TCBA said that we should not waste time on insignificant issues and use "the city's resources and...focus on logical prevalent issues."  Is the extinction of an entire species not prevalent enough for you? 

Brantford, Ontario was the first municipality in Canada to ban shark finning, followed by Oakville and Mississauga soon after.  The vote passed in Toronto 38:4, that means; it is illegal sell, possess, trade, distribute, or consume shark products in a place where over 5.5 million people live!  So for anyone that thinks, "I'll just drive out of the city to buy shark-fin soup to sell at my store or serve at this function" will be fined (I mention this because I have overheard and read many who are against the ban saying proudly they will find loop-holes).  Fines will range from $5,000CAD for first offenders and $100,000CAD for third-time offenders.  

Great effort on Toronto's part to be on top of this important movement!  Toronto and Mississauga had the most restaurants in the province serving shark fin soup so, the ban was a great success.  Next, major cities, especially Vancouver need to jump onboard - but I believe it will have to become a federal issue to make a real impact.