Where you can go to avoid shark's fin
Nicholas Yeo Today Online 5 Jul 12;
SINGAPORE - With the Chinese government officially banning shark's fin soup at state banquets in three years, Singaporeans were divided over whether the Republic should follow suit.
A post on the TODAY Facebook page garnered 300 likes and drew mixed responses. Mr Tan Keng Hua said: "It's the right thing to do." Others disagreed - Mr Darren Lim Eng Hwee said: "Since the Chinese are not eating, there is bound to be oversupply."
According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), 73 million sharks are killed each year. The anti-sharks fin campaign has garnered support from local figures, with the likes of Hossan Leong, Adrian Pang and NMPs Nicholas Fang and Eugene Tan. Apart from this, major companies have pledged no to shark's fin.
Here are some places where you won't be able to find shark's fin:
1. The Peninsula Hotels
The Hong Kong based hotel chain announced it would stop serving the dish at all hotels around the world from Jan 1. "To support the conservation of marine bio-diversity, and given the difficulty of identifying shark fin products that come from non-threatened species"
2. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
The hotel chain ceased serving the dish at its 72 hotels and resorts worldwide this year. The company said the move is "a continuation of Shangri-La's journey towards environmental support". It has also taken the initiative to ban Bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass.
3. Swissotel The Stamford / Fairmont Singapore
The hotel chain removed shark's fin from its menus in March this year, and it has been reported that the move has garnered "tremendous support". The hotel has also stopped serving Chilean seabass and Bluefin tuna.
4. IndoChine Group Restaurants
Group CEO Michael Ma has been a long supporter of the environment and have not served shark's fin since 1999. "Being an eco-friendly company, the IndoChine Group does not serve dishes such as shark's' fin, caviar, sturgeon, blue and yellow finned tuna and sailfish".
5. Cold Storage
The supermarket chain was the first to initiate a "No Shark's Fin" policy, which it did last year. It said: "We are committed to maintaining and supporting the Earth's marine habitat."
6. NTUC FairPrice
Singapore's biggest supermarket chain promised to remove shark's fin products from its shelves after a disparaging remark by one of its suppliers sparked protest online. Its CEO Mr Tan Kian Chew said: "FairPrice has always strived to incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility into our business operations".
7. Carrefour
The French supermarket chain has pledged to stop selling shark's fin after its stock runs out.
