Over in 3 in 4 Singaporeans will back laws against shark fin consumption: survey

Stop selling shark fin now, businesses urged.

Over three-quarters of Singaporeans will support government policy to decrease the consumption of shark fin, according to a consumer survey released by WWF-Singapore.

Other key findings in the report showed that over half those asked ate less shark fin in the past 12 months and that 82% think that a shark fin soup alternative would be acceptable at banquets, with the majority opting for a double-boiled soup as a substitute.

“We are experiencing a cultural change where preservation of our ocean resources and conservation of the shark species is becoming more important to the majority of the public than the traditional value of shark fin soup. It is time for business to step up and match the public’s expectations, stop selling shark fin and support sustainable seafood”, says Elaine Tan, CEO, WWF-Singapore.

The governments of Malaysia (2014), China (2013) and Hong Kong (2013) have already imposed banqueting bans preventing shark fin being served at official functions.
In 2013 Brunei became the first country to ban the catch and landing of all shark species in its national waters as well as the domestic and international trade in shark fin.

“The Singapore public are already educated on this issue and ready to support policy makers in applying controls to curb the consumption of shark fin here, the vast majority of which is from unsustainable and untraceable sources", said Jonn Lu, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Shark Savers.