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This is a television commercial by the Sea Shepherd. It is an appeal to stop finning sharks. Shark finning refers to the cruel practice of capturing sharks and slicing off their fins. Shark fins are a Chinese delicacy -- they are the main ingredient in shark fin soup. Since shark meat isn't worth the cost of transporting the massive ....
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Hong Kong shark fin merchants on Wednesday reacted angrily to a US study that said meat from endangered species was being sold in the city's markets to make a popular soup. In the new study for the journal Endangered Species Research, US scientists said they had used DNA testing to trace the geographic origin of shark fins on sale in Hong Kong. They found 21 percent of the fins came from endangered scalloped hammerhead shark stocks in the western Atlantic. But the Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade... Read Full Story
High-tech forensic methods show that some shark fins on sale in Hong Kong markets come from endangered shark populations, proving the need for stronger trade regulations, a new study said Tuesday. US scientists using a type of DNA testing said they were able to trace the geographic origin of shark fins on sale in Hong Kong and show that endangered species are being targeted by the trade. The group is calling for the March 2010 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered... Read Full Story
Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has threatened to take legal action against Japan if it continues its "research" whaling program. Japanese Foreign Minister, Katsuya Okada, recently stated they had no planes to stop the program which kills 1,000 whales a year. In 1986 there was a ban on commercial whaling, making hunting them only legal if it is for scientific research purposes. So since then Japan has continued hunting whales, claiming it is the name of science, although no reliable... Read Full Story
Anyone remember Jack Ma? Once labeled the "Dr.Evil of Shark Finning ," he remains the CEO of the widely successful online Chinese trading platform Alibaba .com. I had a lot to say about Alibaba .com and the millions of sharks fin they traded online back in 2007 when pressure in the form of hundreds of individuals and groups brought this trading platform to the media forefront. Fast Forward Can anyone say changed man? I was more than pleased to read an in depth press release from Alibaba .com... Read Full Story
Anyone remember Jack Ma? Once labeled the "Dr.Evil of Shark Finning," he remains the CEO of the widely successful online Chinese trading platform Alibaba.com. I had a lot to say about Alibaba.com and the millions of sharks fin they traded online back in 2007 when pressure in the form of hundreds of individuals and groups brought this trading platform to the media forefront. Fast Forward Can anyone say changed man? I was more than pleased to read an in depth press release from Alibaba.com this... Read Full Story
I have said in the past that shark conservation is a tough sell. Whether it's the public's general uneasiness with sharks thanks to years of over-sensationalized media or an ingrained cultural bias towards shark products (or seafood in general), gaining converts throughout the masses has been challenging. Part of that lies in the difficulty in making a personal connection, making an argument that resonates within the individual - "this will affect me ." But sometimes it's the opposition that... Read Full Story
Question: What costs $36.89 for 14.9 ounces of canned product? As I came to discover this week it’s a can of Shark Fin Soup made in Taiwan and sold in a corner market in San Francisco. San Francisco is a major hub for shark fin activity and thousands of pounds of sharks fin pass though this city each and every month. It was a personal shock for me to discover these cans on shelf at the extraordinary price of $36.89 a can (click image). Fortunately there are others who have noticed this issue... Read Full Story
Question: What costs $36.89 for 14.9 ounces of canned product? As I came to discover this week it's a can of Shark Fin Soup made in Taiwan and sold in a corner market in San Francisco. San Francisco is a major hub for shark fin activity and thousands of pounds of sharks fin pass though this city each and every month. It was a personal shock for me to discover these cans on shelf at the extraordinary price of $36.89 a can (click image). Fortunately there are others who have noticed this issue... Read Full Story
A super-fast, space-age powerboat which scythes through waves and smashed the round-the-world record is set to be unleashed on Japanese whalers next month, activists said on Friday. The tri-hulled, kevlar-and-carbon vessel, which can manage speeds up to 50 knots (57 miles/93 kilometres per hour), will chase the controversial boats during their annual hunt in seas south of Australia. The futuristic "Ady Gil", formerly known as "Earthrace", jetted round the world in just under 61 days last... Read Full Story