In many western countries, shark fin, the essential ingredient in the Chinese banquet mainstay, has become a delicacy that has soured for many Chinese and non-Chinese consumers.
The government of New Zealand has banned finning dead sharks in New Zealand waters. The New Zealand Herald reports, however, that many Chinese restaurants in the country’s largest city of Auckland, still plan to continue serving shark fin.
All shark species will be protected by the ban by 2016 . Starting in 2015, a prohibition on finning will come into place for nearly all species except one, the blue shark which will be included in the ban a year later. One expert said the blue shark is the most impacted by shark finning with over a million kilograms caught, finned and dumped every year.
h/t: New Zealand Herald
Photo credit: Flickr
