The Editor,
Re: "Steves puts dog shark fin on menu," News, March 6.
Disappointing, but not surprising, that city council did not have the courage to put a ban in place on shark fin soup.
Many of Richmond's public have made their opinions known regarding this issue, yet city council takes the easy out, saying it's a federal issue. Why not, instead, show some leadership and listen to the Richmond citizens who have spoken out well on this matter.
If we do not desire this slaughter of sharks to please a few, so be it. Anyone who has seen the pictures of how these fins are gathered should be disgusted!
A large shark is caught, pulled aboard the fishing boat, its fin cut off, and it is tossed back into the sea to suffer and die.
Councillor Harold Steves' easy out to this is to allow the slaughter (harvest) of our local dog fish - a small variety of the shark. But, no doubt, their small fins are of no interest to the few local merchants who insist in serving this and even threaten to take legal action if a ban is put in place.
A lot they care about the welfare of sharks - some species soon to be classed as endangered! Also from past stories I have read on this subject few Chinese diners eat this soup at any rate, as it is too expensive.
Victor Hillman Richmond (See Editor's note page 9)
