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.”
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.
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.
Survey: Should Canada Contraband Shark Fin
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.
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.
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