Councillors from the city of Mississauga, ON decided to repealed the ban they passed in October on the sale of shark fin products.

After having passed this ban in October, following in the foot-steps of other influential Canadian cities, Mississauga councillors decided to renege on their initial promise and essentially collapse under pressure from the Mississauga Chinese Business Association. The MCBA believes they are just in their fight to allow the sale of shark fins, stating:
 "...We will continue to tell council that this type of bylaw cannot be enforced because they have no authority, basically. It’s not fair to ban all products if most are imported legally.” - Stephen Chu, President, MCBA.

To Mr. Chu, I would ask, what about the fact that this product, being harvested, represents the greatest threat to shark populations, in the history of the species? 
What about the fact that shark-finning has a very direct impact on eco-systems, as often the shark is the top predator within it? 
What about the fact that estimates from leading shark scientists suggests that every year, approximately 100,000,000 sharks are inhumanely slaughtered but for their fins? 
What about the fact that shark finning violates the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations’s international plan for conservation and management of sharks? 
What about the fact that estimates suggest the vast majority of shark fins traded today, have been harvested illegally? 
The move by Mississauga to renege on this ban is a big step backwards. We cannot allow associations like the MCBA to convince our municipalities that shark finning is acceptable. 

It is estimated that 90% of the world's shark populations have been decimated. This is not a natural phenomenon.  Between 70 - 100 million sharks are slaughtered world-wide every year so that their fins can be used in shark fin soup.  Sharks will often have their fins and tails cut off before being tossed back into the ocean to die a slow and agonizing death.  This disgusting and cruel practice is made even more reprehensible by the following facts:

·         Shark fin soup has NO significant nutritional value

·         Shark fin soup is consumed merely as a status symbol

·         Research has shown that high levels of mercury and other toxins in fins and flesh make the soup to be considered unhealthy for human consumption

·         Shark fins don't actually add flavour to the soup, only texture  

 

Tell Mr. Chu, the MCBA and the Mississauga city councillors that we will not stand for these atrocities to be supported by our elected officials. Shark fin soup is not only dangerous for human health, it represents an environmentally harmful practice and supports the disgustingly inhumane slaughtering of millions upon millions of innocent sharks.

Tell the city of Mississauga and Mayor Hazel McCallion, to impose a ban on shark fin products and protect that ban with iron-clad legislation.

Please feel free to explain your discontent to Mr. Stephen Chu by phone or by email - he welcomes any and all who wish to inquire.

Stephen Chu, President MCBA

 Tel: 416-818-9559

mcba@mcba-canada.com

 

We the undersigned, ask that you ban shark fin products once and for all. Profits are never more important than human beings acting humanely. This industry is the topic of a great deal of debate worldwide. Often, these sharks are stripped of their fins and tails while alive and then merely thrown back into the ocean where they are left to die painfully and inevitably. 

Beyond the inhumanity of the practice, shark finning contributes to the devastation of eco-systems and the environment alike. Shark meat contains high levels of mercury, making it potentially toxic if ingested, maintains no taste; only texture, and is consumed merely a symbol of status. This inhumanity has gone unpunished long enough. Let's not wait until the majesty of the shark is stolen from this world before we decide to act. If we act now, sharks may still roam as kings and queens of the oceans for many years to come but if we don't act now, we will be mere contributors to the regicide of our oceanic royalty...

Thank you very much for your time and consideration in reading this letter. We hope that you will help us provide hope for the future of sharks the world over.