Souper! Shark fin consumption in Hong Kong restaurants falls by almost 50 percent

By Sakshi Kaushik

Nov 26, 2014 | 5:15pm Hong Kong time

Animal lovers, rejoice! According to a recent survey conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the consumption of shark fin in 35 different establishments in Hong Kong dropped from 306kg in 2012 to 161kg in 2013.

Similarly, Hong Kong’s import of shark fin dropped from 8,200 tonnes in 2012 to 5,400 tonnes in 2013. Let’s hope that’s not just down to the fact that as many as 74 species are facing extinction.

Shark fin, which is used to make the traditional Chinese shark fin soup delicacy, is often served during birthday and wedding banquets in restaurants, clubhouses and hotels in Hong Kong.

It is estimated that roughly 73 million sharks are killed each year to satisfy trade demands, with Hong Kong representing 50 percent of the world’s market.

The WWF survey, conducted between April and September this year, drew 154 responses from restaurants, hotels, caterers and clubhouses. Seventy percent of the surveyed hotels and clubhouses said that they no longer served shark fin, (yay, for them), however, many restaurants, and a massive 97 percent of caterers, admitted they still do (boo, hiss!).

Tracy Tsang Chui-chi, senior programme officer at the WWF, said “Many of them [restaurants, etc.] are still providing shark fin on their menus because the customers want it. They are afraid of being criticised if they refuse to provide the traditional dish.”

She added that some fear being outpaced by their competition if they remove the delicacy from their menus.

Some hotels, however, like the Grand Hyatt, have plunged themselves into the deep end with no goggles and stopped serving shark fin completely.

Speaking to the SCMP, Raymond Cheung Muk-kam, the Grand Hyatt’s executive sous chef, said that although the restaurant’s revenue fell by 10 percent when it stopped serving the dish in 2012, business eventually picked up again.

Tsang believes that all restaurants and caterers should respond to the declining demand for shark fin by striking it from their menus.

The Hong Kong government has already made a similar stand by banning the consumption of shark fin at all official functions.

The sale of shark fin, however, is still legal in the city – just take a stroll around Sheung Wan on a sunny day and you’ll see dozens of the rather sad looking appendages drying out on the pavement.