
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.”

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.

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.