Say 'no' to shark's fin soup
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Jun 29, 2011 - ST Forum
THE report ('No more culling of cats in Chong Pang'; June 19) stated that 'in a suggestion that drew a few laughs, an advocate for shark conservation said government-organised banquets should stop serving shark's fin soup'.
Tabled in a light-hearted manner, the suggestion received overwhelming support from attendees. Within two hours, our team spoke to 80 attendees at our booth at the forum, and 60 animal lovers participated in a global photo-mob campaign in support of Assembly Bill AB 376, a proposed shark's fin ban in California.
Project: FIN believes the Government can lead by example, through ensuring that only sustainable seafood is served at functions.
At the forum, a Standard Chartered Bank staff member revealed that the bank has stringent rules not to order shark's fin at all events.
Five-star hotel Fairmont Singapore also has strict guidelines on sustainable seafood, and its Szechuan restaurant even dedicated a page in its menu to educate consumers about sustainability.
These environmental efforts are commendable and can only serve to put brand images in better light. With shark's fin arousing controversy, its serving at events is quickly becoming a show of ignorance.
Shark's fin originated from the Ming dynasty and was accessible only to the emperor and selected members of his court. It was never accessible to commoners and, hence, is not part of our Chinese tradition.
In Chinese tradition, the sound of words is of great importance. Dishes with auspicious-sounding names are usually served at auspicious events. Shark's fin in Mandarin, however, is called 'yu chi', which sounds similar to 'fish spike' or 'fish thorn'. If tradition is of concern, we should not be serving our guests with inauspicious thorns.
It is ironic that the fins are actually tasteless. They add only texture to the soup flavoured by other ingredients. At the wedding of one of our members, mock shark's fins were served and none of the guests noticed the difference until they were informed by the couple.
Shark's fin soup was popularised only in the last 30 or so years, and during this short span, shark populations have faced worldwide declines of approximately 80 per cent. Singapore, being the world's second-largest trading nation for shark's fin, has great potential of making a positive difference.
Jennifer Lee (Ms)
Founder
Project: FIN
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They should petition the govt to legislate and ban the selling of shark's fin soup.
Any other reasons given to support the non eating of shark's fin is just noise.
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Originally posted by charlize:
They should petition the govt to legislate and ban the selling of shark's fin soup.
Any other reasons given to support the non eating of shark's fin is just noise.
no sharkfin soup is a no no for big PRC investors, the govt will not ban it.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
no sharkfin soup is a no no for big PRC investors, the govt will not ban it.
So it all boils down to $$$ as always.
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Times are bad.
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Originally posted by mancha:
Times are bad.
Indeed.
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Many years ago the "Hor-fun" had shark meat in it....nowadays no more....why arh ?
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Anybody know why ?
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I am boycotting sharkfin soup cos Sharks might get extinct soon.
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than they'll ask to do the same for tunas and then for .......
people who dont eat sharks fins will ask people who do to stop. people who eats sharks fins will ask the japs to stop whale hunting first. the japs will ask people who eat tuna to stop first..
why dont the caucasians stop eating beef first?
it never ends...
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Originally posted by dragg:
than they'll ask to do the same for tunas and then for .......
people who dont eat sharks fins will ask people who do to stop. people who eats sharks fins will ask the japs to stop whale hunting first. the japs will ask people who eat tuna to stop first..
why dont the caucasians stop eating beef first?
it never ends...
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Stop eating everyone.Find a spot in LCK and bury yourself.
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Shark fins expensive, no money to eat.
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Actually shark fins and abalone itself are tasteless, it is the way the chef cook that makes them taste nice. I ever tried vegetarian shark fins soup (make of tang hoon). It tastes equally good.
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I agreed that the skill of the chef is more important than the ingredient.
If you pass shark fin to a noob to cook, the shark fin will taste like shit.
If only chefs can be more creative and do their part in preserving some animals.
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when sharks are extinct, no more shark fins...
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
when sharks are extinct, no more shark fins...
Right on.
When there are no more sharks, the eating stops.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Right on.
When there are no more sharks, the eating stops.
They used to eat dodo birds.
Now nodoby eats dodo birds.