Shark Finning

Pawwed Rig

Not strictly a diving query but definitely diving related due to the Project Aware campaign on Shark Finning and divers are more likely to know this than one of the food fora.

Does anyone know if it is legal in Ireland? I was at a restaurant the other night who were selling Shark Fin soup. That is the first time I ever saw it for sale here (as I assumed it was banned) and the waiter confirmed that they use real shark fins.

djmarkus

http://diving.ie/news/shark-finning-ban/

Although, trading shark fins may still be legal?

Pawwed Rig

From that I would conclude that once the whole shark is landed and brought ashore then they can do what they like with the fin but they don't allow the slicing off the fin and throwing the shark back in the water.
Seems like they would be allowed to sell it so:(

locum-motion

The product itself isn't banned anywhere, as far as I know. However, since demand for the product is what drives the practice of finning, I refuse to eat in any restaurant that serves Shark Fin Soup. As I walk out, I always tell them why. (Well, I say "I always...", but as it happens I've only ever seen it on the menu of 2 restaurants. I told them both.)

NoQuarter

What restaurant sells them? I dont see any problem in identifying the restaurant in question.

locum-motion

NoQuarter wrote: »

What restaurant sells them? I dont see any problem in identifying the restaurant in question.

One was abroad.
The other was several years ago, so I don't know if they still do it or not, but it was a Chinese in Ranelagh.

Pawwed Rig

NoQuarter wrote: »

What restaurant sells them? I dont see any problem in identifying the restaurant in question.

http://www.menupages.ie/Dublin/city_centre/georges_street/good_world_chinese_restaurant/menu

Seems that they are not doing anything illegal once the shark fins are from a verified source but I won't be going there again.

alwayssideways

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

http://www.menupages.ie/Dublin/city_centre/georges_street/good_world_chinese_restaurant/menu

Seems that they are not doing anything illegal once the shark fins are from a verified source but I won't be going there again.

Thanks for that, I will be sure to avoid the place.

locum-motion

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

http://www.menupages.ie/Dublin/city_centre/georges_street/good_world_chinese_restaurant/menu

Seems that they are not doing anything illegal once the shark fins are from a verified source but I won't be going there again.

That's not the one I was referring to (but it does have shark fin soup on its menu)


EDIT: From looking at Google Streetview, I think that the one I was referring to is Wong's, next door to McSorley's. I can't find its menu online, but there appears to be another branch (ie. the logo's the same) in Clontarf. That restaurant's menu is on PawwedRig's link (www.menupages.ie), and it does not have Shark Fin Soup on it. Perhaps they had a change of heart in the last couple of years.

Pawwed Rig

locum-motion wrote: »

That's not the one I was referring to (but it does have shark fin soup on its menu)

The Good World restaurant was the one I was in the other night (hence this thread).
I e-mailed the Dept of Agriculture about it to see what the actual regulations are so we'll see what they say.

locum-motion

Sorry, PR, I thought that this post

NoQuarter wrote: »

What restaurant sells them? I dont see any problem in identifying the restaurant in question.

was in reply to this one of mine

locum-motion wrote: »

The product itself isn't banned anywhere, as far as I know. However, since demand for the product is what drives the practice of finning, I refuse to eat in any restaurant that serves Shark Fin Soup. As I walk out, I always tell them why. (Well, I say "I always...", but as it happens I've only ever seen it on the menu of 2 restaurants. I told them both.)

rather than in response to your original post.

Pawwed Rig

So I got a response from the FSAI repeating what has already been said here
'There is no ban on removing fins after they have been legally landed or on the sale of shark fin soup. '

http://www.sfpa.ie/Portals/0/Legislation/Fisheries%20Conservation/EU%20Regulations/2013/EU%20603%20of%202013%20Amdt%20to%201185-2003%20Shark%20fins.pdf

So by the looks of it if I am to boycott and restaurant that serves shark fin soup I should extend that to any restaurant that serves shark.

locum-motion

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

...
So by the looks of it if I am to boycott and restaurant that serves shark fin soup I should extend that to any restaurant that serves shark.

Basically, you are unlikely to find any. AFAIK, shark meat isn't really a part of any country's cuisine, as I think it's not very tasty. (Apparently, the fins aren't tasty either; shark fin soup is eaten in Chinese cuisine for its prestige value, not its nutritional value)

ZiabR

alwayssideways wrote: »

Thanks for that, I will be sure to avoid the place.

Me too. Unreal...

scuby

i've seen some port beagle sharks being sliced into steaks in the English Market in Cork, but they just happened to get caught in nets at the time, as by-catch.

NoQuarter

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

So I got a response from the FSAI repeating what has already been said here
'There is no ban on removing fins after they have been legally landed or on the sale of shark fin soup. '

http://www.sfpa.ie/Portals/0/Legislation/Fisheries%20Conservation/EU%20Regulations/2013/EU%20603%20of%202013%20Amdt%20to%201185-2003%20Shark%20fins.pdf

So by the looks of it if I am to boycott and restaurant that serves shark fin soup I should extend that to any restaurant that serves shark.

I'd certainly walk out if any part of a shark was being sold for food. I will be avoiding that place too and might just go all facebook warrior on its ass too!

a148pro

locum-motion wrote: »

BAFAIK, shark meat isn't really a part of any country's cuisine, as I think it's not very tasty.

I've had blue shark (which I presume was by catch as I thought it was endangered) and it was reasonably nice. You wouldn't go looking for it though. I've also had dogfish abroad, not really up to much.

I think if stuff is caught as bycatch then I'd rather it eaten than not, albeit I agree with people not wanting to promote shark fin-ing