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).
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.
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.
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