BARBARA KLEIN: The Humane Society International leads one of the largest campaigns to protect sharks. Iris Ho is the group’s wildlife campaigns manager.
IRIS HO: “Over ninety percent of the world’s shark fin consumption takes place in China, and Hong Kong alone handles about fifty percent of the global trade in shark fins.”
Iris Ho says the United States is the second-largest market for shark fins.
IRIS HO: “According to, to the government records, in two thousand ten, thirty-four metric tons of shark fins were imported into the U.S.”
Sharks have been alive for four hundred million years. They were living even before the earliest dinosaurs. But some scientists believe they may be unable to survive the current demand for shark-fin soup.
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: Shark fin has been considered a special treat in Chinese culture since the Ming emperors first demanded it more than four hundred years ago. However, as we noted earlier, the methods of harvesting the fish mean shark populations are increasingly endangered.
Earlier this year in Hong Kong, more than one hundred fifty activists gathered to publicize the environmental and animal welfare issues linked to the shark fin trade. The activists called on the new head of the Hong Kong government to ban the use of shark fin at official dinners.
BARBARA KLEIN: Rachel Vickerstaff is with the Hong Kong Shark Foundation. She says the Hong Kong shark fin market is worth more than five hundred million dollars a year. Earlier this year, she explained what the activists hoped to do.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25