Finally serious Chinese backing for sharks

The chinese are the biggest consumer of sharks and no real idea of the impact they have on the shark population. Perhaps now with a national sports icon like Yao Ming saying no to sharks, there may be some dent on the extreme pressure on the shark population.

Yao's off sharks fin

Excellent news.

Alex

I agree it is good news, however everything I read about the problem makes me think it is going take a LOT more than one role model saying don't do it.

Shark week this year on the Disco channel is actually a pleasant change from the normal sharks are evil stuff .. I particularly like Mike Rowes Dirty Jobs .. Jobs that Bite stuff.

I think that good shark media like that will make more difference. Saying don't eat shark fin soup is not going to stop the culling of shraks IMO as much as educating youth of the facts.

It is good news...

Remember Giles.. i don't think they get Shark Week in China... But yes, educating youth is extremely important

as a reformed shark fin eater, I'm glad that the message is becoming more mainstream.

Does anybody have a picture of a dead shark sans fins? This would be a good picture to show my friends and family. We have to influence people both globally and in our own circles.

Excellent news Drew.

And good on you Larry. I wish you luck with your friends/relatives. I'm afraid I don't have a picture to assit. I'm sure somebody here does though.

Hey Giles,

I just happened to have Mike Rowes Dirty Jobs .. Jobs that Bite stuff on TV as I was perusing these posts. Agree that it is nice to see a different slant on sharks rather than them theorizing once again whether it was a Great White Shark or a Bull Shark that swam into fresh water and chewed its way through bathers in Matawan Creek oh so many years ago.

Let's hope more people in Asia swear off shark fin soup.

Best regards, Jett

Does anybody have a picture of a dead shark sans fins?

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http://images.google.com/images?q=shark%20finning

http://seashepherd.org/longline/longline_shark_finning.html

thanks Roger.

Yes, it was heartening to me to read about Yao's stance on shark fin soup. It will take much much more to change the prevailing views in China, but this *is* a significant start. Wouldn't it be great if Jackie Chan would do the same?!

Shark Week also has a new video podcast up now at iTunes. I was impressed with the content. The Shark Learning episode was particularly poignant for me because it expressed what I've come to see first hand in my work on the shark diving boats, namely that sharks are intelligent.

Much must be done to change the world's views on sharks and shark finning and fishing, and Yao's stand is a very positive step.

Interesting new developments... The Taiwanese press (Taipei Times) is reporting that Ming's actions didn't do much to change the Chinese perspective:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials...9/03/2003325993

Actually it was covered by a few newspapers as footnotes and downplayed, mainly because it is against Chinese government policy to speak against anything "chinese". But it has been heard by the public. The chief chef of Lei Yuen (lei Gardens) a restaurant famous for it's shark's fin soup, also supported him,and has urged the hotel to stop serving it.

I mean anytime there is activity in the "enemy" camp it's a good thing.

You folks should join in and take action to stop this attrocity. I am a member of www.wildaid.org. Check out this detailed info:

For exhaustive research and studies on shark finning:

http://www.wildaid.org/index.asp?CID=72&am...2&SUBID=275

And this recent press release and WildAid activity in China:

NEWS FROM WILDAID'S ACTIVE CONSERVATION AWARENESS PROGRAM (ACAP)

China Wildlife Consumption Survey Results Launched

WildAid and China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) jointly launched the China Wildlife Consumption Survey from October 2005 to January 2006 in 16 Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai. This is the second survey after CWCA's initial survey in 1999. The goal of the survey is to provide in-depth data and information on the status of wildlife consumption in China and identify public attitudes toward wildlife consumption after SARS and Avian Flu.

The survey results, released in Beijing on April 18, 2006, suggest that the percentage of the public eating wild animals has decreased, and the public awareness on wildlife conservation has improved. The Chinese government is taking active measures to stop illegal wildlife consumption for the sustainable development of wildlife resources.

Mr. Steve Trent, President of WildAid said that "while the results of the survey can give some encouragement, we must keep in mind the depth of the challenge that faces the conservation of wildlife, not just in China, but globally. Over 15,500 species are known to face extinction and the likelihood is there are many more which have escaped the notice of scientific study. These include 1 in 3 of all amphibians; half of all freshwater turtles; 1 in 8 bird species and 1 in 4 mammals. 90% of each of the world's large ocean species – like cod, swordfish, halibut – have been lost since the 1950's and others marine species, such as shark, are now subject to a rapid and accelerating decline. If we are to be successful in conserving the wildlife resources that ultimately sustain us all, we must reduce our consumption of wildlife, bringing it under control and within sustainable limits. And as a first, vital step stop, once and for all, the illegal trade in wildlife. WildAid believes China can become a world leader in this endeavour and we encourage all parties to take further, stronger and more effective action toward this end and at the same time pledge our support."

To help protect China's wildlife resources, CWCA and WildAid encourage the public to adopt consumption patterns away from wildlife consumption. In order to better protect China's wildlife resources, capture from the wild needs to be terminated and commercial utilization of endangered and valuable species prohibited. Law enforcement should also be reinforced to eliminate the poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife.

Download a copy of the Report on the Survey of Wildlife Consumption & Public Attitude to Wildlife Consumption in China

http://www.wildaid.org/PDF/reports/CWCA%20...-%20English.pdf

Just for the record I was amazed that in Helsinki most of the Chinese restaurants [not that there are many over there] have, openly, in their menu Shark Fin Soup! I just stormed out of one when I noticed.

In Svalbard [not surprisingly] pubs have in their menu Mink Whale Carpaccio!

So much for the "so called" civilised countries...