Richmond MP Alice Wong is fully behind the new ban on importing and exporting shark fin products, despite openly advocating in 2012 for the opposite.
The Conservative MP for Richmond Centre was in favour of the ban, which became law on Tuesday night in the House of Commons, as part of Bill C-68, which amended the Fisheries Act.
Wong sparked controversy seven years ago, when she tucked into a bowl of shark fin soup at a Chinese restaurant in Richmond, in front of an Asian-only media scrum.
Her move was in response to a growing call for the City of Richmond to follow the lead of neighbouring municipalities in banning shark fin products, with Canada being the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia.
At the time Wong said eating shark fin was part of the Asian culture and that freedom of choice should prevail when it comes to serving the likes of the soup delicacy, found mostly in Asian restaurants.
As Bill C-68 made its way through parliament on Tuesday, however, Wong told the Richmond News that she’s now happy to support the ban.
“While something is legal, we should be allowed to consume it. It’s about freedom of choice, as long as it’s legal,” she said, explaining her previous opposition.
“Assuming Bill C-68 is passed (and shark fin products becomes illegal), then I would not support (the importation and sale of shark fin products).”
Wong said that her party had tabled an amendment to the Bill – which had nothing to do with shark fins – but it was voted down by the NDP and Liberal parties.
Wong pointed out that the new ban would allow for the importation of the entire shark, including the fin.
It is envisaged, however, that the poachers who practise shark-finning – who catch the shark, cut off its fin and throw it back into the ocean to die – are not willing or able to harvest the entire shark.
And, more importantly, it has been difficult for Canadian authorities to identify which species of shark is being imported, when it’s just the fin coming through customs. (Previously, only products from endangered species were banned)
“We will have to wait and see (if it works),” added Wong.
“Whether this is enough to deter the consumption (of shark fin products), it’s too early to tell.”
Oceana Canada, one of the many environmental groups which have campaigned for more protection of sharks, hailed the ban as “great day for our oceans.”
“The overhauled Fisheries Act has the potential to be one of the most transformative things that has happened for our oceans in many years,” says Josh Laughren, executive director, Oceana Canada.
“We thank Fisheries Minister Wilkinson and former Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc for prioritizing rebuilding fish populations. The Act now lays a strong foundation to support healthy oceans for generations to come.”
Fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up in the global shark fin trade every year, according to Oceana Canada, including many endangered species.
“This is a huge victory for sharks and for the many Canadians, advocacy groups and politicians who joined together to champion the ban of this cruel practice,” said Kim Elmslie, campaign director, Oceana Canada.
“We applaud everyone’s efforts, including Senator Michael MacDonald and MP Fin Donnelly who initiated and championed the private members bill calling for a ban.”
The global population of sharks has been depleted by 90 per cent following decades of overfishing.
The top importers of shark fins globally are mainland China and Hong Kong, where shark fin soup is a popular delicacy among the wealthy.
In 2018 alone, Canada imported more than 148,000 kilograms of shark fins, a product worth more than $3.2 million, according to data compiled by Statistics Canada.
In 2017, Conservative Nova Scotia Sen. Michael MacDonald tabled a bill banning shark fins, S-238, to do away with these imports.
On the back of Delta banning the products in January, David Chung, owner of Richmond’s Jade Seafood Restaurant and president of the Asian Cafe and Restaurant Association, said he would fight in court any municipal ban on shark fin products.
Chung added that such a ban would never happen in Richmond, due to the high volume of people of Chinese ethnicity living in the city.
He argued that the world has “excessive” sharks, and that endangered species are already forbidden in a catch, so there is no problem with the shark fin industry.
