Vancouver council passed a motion seeking a regional shark fin ban Tuesday, giving local Chinese restaurants about a year to clear existing inventories.
The motion's key proponent, Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang, said city staff will consult with colleagues from Richmond, Burnaby and potentially Surrey - all areas with shark fin restaurant sales - to hash out a regional approach on bylaws and enforcement.
The envisioned ban would not make pos-session of shark fins illegal, as is the case in Toronto, Jang said.
Vancouver would potentially seek provincial legislation enabling the city to levy hefty fines on shark fin trading, but the city currently doesn't have those powers, he said.
Jang estimated the participating municipalities would come back with co-ordinated bans against shark fin trading in about a year, giving restaurants some time to sell existing stocks.
In the Chinese community the dried fins, which can cost about $100 per serving, are presented at weddings or shared with friends and prospective business partners at restaurants as an indicator of status.
But consumption of the fins is putting sharks in danger of extinction, advocates say.
Jang acknowledged that within the local Chinese community and businesses there is some backlash against his motion, but said younger community members have been steadily moving away from the traditional dish.
"It's time for new traditions," Jang said in an interview outside council chambers.
A number of Lower Mainland municipalities have already banned shark fins, including North Vancouver city, Maple Ridge and Coquitlam.
Jang said for a Vancouver ban to be effective, and in order to influence a reduction of shark fin consumption nationally, other municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby and Surrey must join Vancouver's initiative. After the motion was unanimously passed, Humane Society International/ Canada issued a statement applauding the move.
"A common approach to ban the sale of shark fin products in [Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby] would eliminate the largest remaining markets for shark fin products in Canada and make the region a leader in international efforts to save this vital species," the statement said.
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