Chinese groups back plan to ban shark hunting

Chinese groups here have come out in support of the proposed ban on shark hunting by the Sabah government. Malaysia Chinese Food Consumer Association vice-chairman Wilson Chia said shark hunting is a cruel act and his association fully supports the ban.
He said the association also discouraged the community from choosing shark fin soup as the main course during functions.
“The dish can easily be replaced with abalone or prawns,” he said.
The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia deputy secretary-general Dr Chin Yew Sin welcomed the proposed ban and called on the Chinese community to also support the move.
“We have hundreds of other dishes to choose from besides shark fin soup,” he said, adding that restaurants also had various substitutes for the delicacy.
Malaysian Nature Society urged the state government to not just ban shark hunting but the consumption of shark fin soup as well.
“We hope Sabah will serve as an example for other states,” said its head of communications Andrew Sebastian, adding that it had been campaigning against the consumption of shark fin since 2007.
Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president Shenaaz Khan called for the hunting ban to be extended to other wildlife as well.
She said many people would not consume shark fin if they were aware of how shark fins were obtained.
“The fishermen just cut off the shark’s fins before throwing the animal back into the sea to die,” she said, adding that many restaurants were becoming more environmentally conscious and had taken the delicacy off their menus.