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leftInside the egg casing:

Yet-to-be-born whitespotted

bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium

plagiosum), an oviparous

(egg laying) carpet shark that

is found in the Philippines

so-called “face” and status would do to the environment

in the long run.

Cuisine Explicit

Many do not realise that not all Chinese cuisines

corresponding to the various dialects actually have

shark fin soup as traditional must-have dishes for

celebrations and gatherings.

In fact, out of six major dialects (Hokkien, Teochew,

Cantonese, Hakka, Shanghainese, Sichuanese), only

four (Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Sichuanese)

maintain shark fin soup as a recurring dish. However,

more than 60 percent of the population in China,

Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan make up the dialects

that continue to insist on shark fin consumption. This

excludes countries like Japan, who also contribute to

the consumption of shark fin in the form of dumplings.

Hopeful Statistics to Inspire

Historically, Hong Kong was the epicentre of the global

shark fin trade (as it was for the international ivory

trade until it was banned in 1989), but trade has shifted

more recently to Guangzhou, in southern China.

Between 1980 and 1990, available statistics show that

Hong Kong imported 65 to 80 percent of all recorded

shark fins.

From 2000 to 2009, Hong Kong was the largest

importer, followed by China. Although China does not

collate trade data, market sources and investigations

assert that the centre of the trade has shifted. By 2000,

shark fin traders estimated that Hong Kong’s imports

had declined to 44 to 58 percent of the global market.

From 2001 to 2006, that fell a further 30 to 50 percent.

A 2007 study of the social, economic and regulatory

drivers of the shark fin trade determined that “the

migration of the trade from its former centre in Hong

Many do not realise that not all Chinese

cuisines corresponding to the various

dialects actually have shark fin soup

as traditional must-have dishes for

celebrations and gatherings.

above Famous conservationist

and shark lover, Cristina

Zenato, has obliterated all

negative myths about sharks

• here, she has fun with a
  few Caribbean reef sharks
  (Carcharhinus perezi)

PHOTO JEFFREY ROTMAN/CORBIS