Canada becomes first G7 country to ban shark fin imports
Source: The Guardian
Canada becomes first G7 country to ban shark fin imports
● Measure which also bans sale of fins awaits royal assent
● Shark fin soup has long been seen as a delicacy in Asia
Leyland Cecco in Toronto
Fri 21 Jun 2019 08.00 BST Last modified on Fri 21 Jun 2019 08.40 BST
It was on a family visit to Hong Kong that Kristyn Wong-Tam noticed her uncle – a well-regarded chef – was the only person at the table not touching a bowl of shark fin soup.
When he explained how fins are hacked from struggling sharks, before their bodies are tossed back into the water, the rest of the family soon lost their appetite.
“We didn’t understand how the food came to the table,” recalled Wong-Tam. “But it made me think about whether I wanted to eat it, if my uncle – who was actually preparing the food – didn’t want to.”
The experience became a pivotal moment for Wong-Tam: as a Toronto city councillor, she went on to lead efforts to stamp out the sale of shark fins in Canada.
More than a decade later, she has reason to celebrate: on Thursday, after years of failed legislative attempts, Canada became the first G7 country to ban the import and sale of shark fins. The bill is awaiting royal assent.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/21/canada-bans-shark-fin-imports-sale
