A growing number of businesses are saying no to shark fin soup. This week, Lok Sing, a popular restaurant in New York City, announced that it has stopped offering shark fin soup and other dishes containing shark fin and Chinese Food DIY announced that it has stopped selling shark fin soup through its website.
Every year, in oceans around the world, tens of millions of sharks are killed to meet the demand for shark fin soup. Sharks' fins are often removed when the fish are still alive; then the sharks are thrown back into the water to endure a painful death from suffocation, blood loss, or predation by other species. This cruel practice is also ecologically devastating – shark finning threatens the survival of these apex predators as well as species that rely on them.
"Lok Sing is happy to make this change, which we believe benefits the health of our oceans as well as the health of our customers," said Lok Sing proprietor Albert Zhu.
Nicholas Zhou of Chinese Food DIY added, "I encourage other businesses to join us in taking this one concrete step to protect marine ecosystems."
The consumption of shark fin may raise public health concerns. Laboratory tests have uncovered levels of mercury in shark fins that far exceed recommended safe levels. Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause extensive damage to the nervous system and to fetuses. In addition, The Washington Post reported concern that shark fins have been processed in China using industrial chemicals.
"Humane Society International commends Chinese Food DIY and Lok Sing for joining the effort to help sharks," stated Susan Prolman, Director of International Campaigns.
HSI approached Lok Sing and Chinese Food DIY with information about shark finning and requested that these businesses stop selling dishes made with shark fin. This outreach is part of HSI's on-going campaign (hsi.org/sharks) to reduce the consumption of shark fin in the United States.
"Shark fin soup is often served at Chinese New Year, weddings, and other celebrations," said Humane Society International's Shu-Jen Chen, "but more and more conscientious people have decided to avoid all dishes containing shark fin."
Increasingly, well-respected Asian establishments, such as the University of Hong Kong, Disneyland Hong Kong, the government of Malaysia, and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Hong Kong's oldest and largest charitable organization, no longer serve shark fin soup. When the daughter of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan was married, President Chen announced that shark's fin soup would not be served at his daughter's wedding.
-30-
Humane Society International (HSI) is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the world's largest animal protection organization. HSI strives to create meaningful social change for animals through advocacy, education, and outreach.
