• Full Story

NZ restaurants slammed for shark fin soup

Email
Print

NZ restaurants slammed for shark fin soup

3News NZ

(Reuters file)

(Reuters file)

Ten New Zealand restaurants have been named and shamed by a lobby group opposing the use of shark fins in soup.

The Australian Anti-Shark Finning Alliance was informed of the restaurants by a number of New Zealand-based supporters and has named the restaurants on its website.

Anti-Shark Finning Alliance Director Mick Dowers says the group is winning the battle to stop thousands of live sharks having their fins sliced off, just for soup.

“We’ve only been active since about April of this year, and I would say so far we’ve had about eight restaurants pledged and put into effect that they no longer serve shark fin soup, and are no longer involved in the shark fin soup industry.”

Restaurants that can prove they no longer offer the dish will be removed from the list.

RadioLIVE

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

20/07/2011 8:49:59 p.m.

Paul wrote:

The shark does not always die in the next few hours or so because its gills are normally left intact and as such it can breath ok so sometimes it can take days ore weeks to die of starvation. THAT is why I won't touch it, plus the waste of the rest of the shark. Why not just use the whole thing.

20/07/2011 2:30:41 p.m.

@Jill wrote:

You should do some research into shark finning. The only part of the shark that is being used is the fin, it's a complete waste to then not even use the rest of the shark (unlike farm animals that are used as much as possible). Secondly, the practice is not humane, they fish the shark, slice the fin off when the shark is still alive and then often throw it back in the water to either 1. drown (it can't swim properly without it's fin) or 2. be attacked by another shark and it can't defend itself. If people dragged a cow from a paddock by a hook in it's mouth, cut off a leg and then threw it back into the paddock there would be outrage. The question of sustainability is correct - the numbers of sharks is dropping drastically and some are dangerously low due to this practice. That is why it's not ok to support shark finning. I suggest you watch SHARKWATER. Cheers.

20/07/2011 12:17:31 p.m.

ladi wrote:

@ jill - eating cow and sheep are not the same as shark finning! a shark is pulled up out of the water its fins cut off and it is dropped back into the water alive to drown at the bottom of the ocean, unable to swim, but just to lie there and wait to die. how is this the same as farmed animals where all the meat is consumed. shark finning is wasteful and cruel, and from what i have read it is tasteless. it would be like cutting off the legs of the cow or sheep and leaving them in a paddock to die. there are alternatives to shark fins, they do make mock shark fins for soup now, which are the same texture as shark fins. @mozzie - kangaroo and crocodile in oz are like possums are in nz. they have an over population of kangaroo and they have become pests as such, but are still obviously the national symbol as they are unique to oz. they are not endangered and are therefore not protected. there are restaurants in wellington that do serve actual shark fin soup but most use the alternative. The Greens survey found that imitation shark fin is served in 13 Chinese restaurants in Wellington, but the Dragons Chinese Restaurant, Grand Century, and Yangtze Restaurant, all serve real shark fin soup and the Big Thumb serves a mixture of real and imitation shark fin. "Shark finning - the practice of killing a shark, cutting off its fins, and discarding the carcass back to sea - is like killing an elephant just for its tusk and is grossly wasteful. (green party)

19/07/2011 11:33:08 p.m.

jill wrote:

I've never eaten shark fin but you don't need to be a genius to know these guys are just a bunch of hypocritic hippies. Why not name and shame those that sell beef and lamb? Cow and sheep have higher intelligence and suffer a lot more. The problem is not eating shark fin but overfishing. Any over fishing is unsustainable.

19/07/2011 11:23:52 p.m.

mozzie wrote:

The last time I was in oz I had the chance to eat Kangaroo (a symbol of your nation and quite good with BBQ sauce) also had crocodile are these not protected if they are then why do the majority of restaurants and supermarkets have these for sale are you for f%$^ real or what!!!!!!

19/07/2011 10:58:07 p.m.

Paul wrote:

So who are the other's ? I would like to know, so I for one won't be visiting these places.

19/07/2011 9:45:49 p.m.

Pat wrote:

Shark fin soup is delicious to eat but I wonder why other parts of the shark are not used. I agree it is a waste of shark

19/07/2011 9:43:34 p.m.

RubyD82 wrote:

I never understand why they can't farm/grow/breed the sharks themselves.

19/07/2011 9:09:51 p.m.

Mick Dowers wrote:

The Australian Anti Shark Finning Alliance (TAASFA) would like to thank Mr Chris Cheng, owner of Cheng's Chinese Restaurant, Timaru for becoming shark fin free. This is a modern 21st century restaurant that recognises the cruelty & unsustainability of shark finning and is working with us to conserve our shark populations and marine ecosystems for the next generation.

TAASFA will continue to identify & name and shame all businesses & restaurants involved in the shark fin industry, but we seek to work with them rather than against them to maintain sustainability in our oceans.