Ed Zieralski of the Union-Tribune reported on the following story January 10, 2009
Some local scuba divers and an executive chef combined this week to eliminate a controversial seafood item from a menu for a Chinese New Year celebration.
Scuba-diving enthusiast Carl Robbins noticed the menu in an advertising flyer from Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino.
Among the offerings was shark fin soup, the controversial Asian delicacy that relies on the fins of sharks, some of which are finned and released in a mutilated state back into the sea. The practice is being blamed for a decrease in shark populations around the world.
The Year of the Ox, which commences Jan. 26, was going to be started with some fin of the shark, which traces its beginnings to the Ming Dynasty in the mid-1300s. (more)
Yeah, it’s part of a culture, and I tend to respect most cultural traditions, but when you’re obviously advancing the demise of a species, maybe it’s time to change those traditions. Every culture has changed traditions with the times, even the tribes that ate humans (not just South Pacific tribes BTW) don’t do that anymore and it was a HUGE part of the culture. Time to take a second look at what’s really important…
