
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).

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.