In what could be a
turning tide for the global shark conservation effort, China’s State Council
has declared that within one to three years it will stop serving shark fin soup
at official receptions.
AsianScientist (Jul. 3, 2012) –
In what could be a turning tide for the global shark conservation effort,
China’s State Council has declared that within one to three years it will stop
serving shark fin soup at official receptions.
According to news reports carried by the state-run Xinhua news
agency and CNTV.cn, China’s Government Offices Administration of
the State Council (GOASC) is planning to issue legislation to ban the soup at
all government functions.
The guidelines, which instruct all levels of government
agencies to stop serving the luxury item at official events, will likely be
issued within one to three years. It places restrictions especially on events
funded with public money.
In response to Monday’s announcement, President and CEO
of Humane Society International (HIS) Andrew Rowan issued a statement calling
it a “watershed moment” for the global shark movement.
“The news that the government of China will stop serving
shark fins marks a watershed moment for the global movement to protect sharks
and pushes China onto the world’s stage as an emerging leader in shark
conservation,” Rowan said.
In March 2011, Ding Liguo, deputy to the National
People’s Congress (NPC) and executive chairman of Delong Holdings Limited,
first proposed a ban on shark fin trading in China.
China remains the world’s largest market for shark fins,
a key ingredient in shark fin soup. Until now no legislation has been
introduced in China to ban the practice.
——
Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine.
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