Shark Fin Free Calgary

Mr. Nenshi,

We wish to express support in Calgary for a ban on the sale of Shark Fin products. The issue of shark finning is one of the most critical environmental issues of our time.

Shark finning is a cruel act where sharks are caught on long lines; the sharks fins are hacked off while the animal is still alive. The sharks are then thrown back into the ocean where they bleed to death and drown. Fishermen are only interested in the fins because shark meat is of low economical value and takes up valuable space on board their boats.  Because of this, we are witnessing one of the cruelest animal slaughters of our time.  

Shark fin soup is a huge status symbol to the Chinese culture and is often served as a sign of wealth.  Shark fin is tastless and provides very little nutritional value. 

Currently, we have noted over 35 restaurants in Calgary that are currently serving shark fin soup.  And, we haven%u2019t even come close to calling them all yet.  By allowing Calgary to serve shark products, we are supporting the barbaric and reckless shark fin industry and Calgarians are starting to come together to fight for a ban on shark fin products. 

Over the last ten years, the consumption of shark fin soup has risen dramatically with the middle class becoming more prosperous.  We are currently killing sharks at a rate of 73 million per year, and have taken out 90 percent of the shark populations in the last decade.  It is anticipated that at the rate we are fishing, 20 species of shark could be wiped out by 2017, and this could mean serious consequences.

A good example would be the East Coast of the United States where the black tip and tiger shark have been virtually wiped out.   Biologists have seen a huge decline of shellfish numbers in these regions because smaller species that are generally consumed by sharks are consuming the shell fish at an unsustainable rate. 

The ocean is the lungs of our planet, and if we take out the top predators of the food chain we risk a horrible collapse in our oceans ecosystem.   

According to the saveallsharks.com, 70% of our oxygen derives from phytoplankton, which converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.  By eliminating a predator that consumes plankton eating fish, this could also limit the amount of oxygen pumped into our atmosphere.

We really think it is important for Calgary to set an good example for the rest of the Canadian cities and lead by this example.  By banning shark fin products we are showing the rest of Canada and the world that we will not support an industry that directly contributes to the suffering of animals and the environmental decline of our life source, the ocean. 

Currently, only one other Canadian city has banned shark fin products.  Brantford city council has recently created a by-law banning all shark fin products.

Sincerly,

The members of a Shark Fin Free Calgary