Vancouver city council votes in favour of developing regional ban on shark-fin products
Vancouver council has directed staff to work with the cities of Richmond and Burnaby on developing a regional ban on the sale of shark-fin products.
In a unanimous vote by council today, staff were instructed to develop a “common approach” with the other two cities, and to report back on the options.
“It’s impossible to ban shark fin only in the city of Vancouver, simply because people will cross the Knight Street Bridge and go to Richmond, and Richmond the same thing—well if we ban in Richmond, people will just cross the Knight Street Bridge back to Vancouver, or maybe they’ll go out to Surrey or they’ll go out to Burnaby or somewhere else,” said Vision Vancouver councillor Kerry Jang, who introduced the motion today (September 18).
“In this way, we can actually make a big impact in reducing the demand in this country for shark-fin products and help save the shark species.”
Jang noted shark fin has a “revered place” in Chinese culture.
“In the ancient days, this was used to honour your guests,” he said. “However, times have changed. You don’t have to serve shark fin to honour your guests.”
Other cities in the region that have recently banned shark-fin products include Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Port Moody and Maple Ridge.
Jang noted the intent of his motion is not to go as far as banning the possession of shark fin, but to prohibit future sales and trade of the product.
While he said there’s no specific timeline, he estimated it could take about a year before staff report back to council with potential bylaws and an approach for implementing a ban.
The motion was passed during city council's first meeting since its summer break today.
Comments
7 Comments
Tyler
Sep 19, 2012 at 9:09am
Excellent news! Great job Councillor Jang.
Doctor
Sep 19, 2012 at 10:24am
Why not ban the possession of shark fin, as well as the sale and trade of it? Banning the sale and trade of shark fin will no doubt drive some of it underground, but if possession is not also banned, there would be little consequences for a black market.
Sheeple
Sep 19, 2012 at 11:28am
Wow this...your Tax Dollars at NOT work...
" he estimated it could take about a year before staff report back to council with potential bylaws and an approach for implementing a ban."
Fucking idiots take at least a year just to write a report.
Epic FAIL!
Andrew
Sep 19, 2012 at 2:26pm
Just ban the sale of shark fin products now. This motion doesn't do that; rather it's a delay tactic. Perhaps committing to a ban from 2013 onwards regardless of the discussions with Richmond & Burnaby could have been a more productive way forward.
RealityCheck
Sep 19, 2012 at 3:26pm
Glad they solved that homeless problem! And what a great job they did on the affordable housing crisis! Isn't it swell that businesses and jobs are no longer fleeing to the suburbs? And crime...Vancouver hasn't had a drug-related shooting in almost 24 hours! Good job! And traffic & walking is a dream, since they solved all of our road and sidewalk problems.
It is very clear now that our big problems are solved, our #1 priority must be fish!
Taxpayers R Us
Sep 19, 2012 at 11:51pm
Funny how they need a year to ban the sale of a grotesquely - obtained product, but rubber stamp high rises and 30 Million dollar pet projects in mere months.
GZLFB
Sep 20, 2012 at 6:36pm
This presumes all finning doesn't come from taking in the whole shark, this is a customs issue.