No shark fin decision
Posted Jan 28, 2013 1:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The shark fin debate will circle City Hall for a few more months.
A packed house in council chambers Monday anticipated a decision on whether to ban the sale of shark fins in Calgary.
However, aldermen figured they needed to sink their teeth into more information first.
They’ve struck a task force to gather input from community members on both sides of the dispute.
The bylaw has already passed First Reading but recent outcry from a group representing Chinatown merchants appears to have prompted further study on the controversial issue.
Activists like Ingrid Kuenzel of Shark Fin Free Calgary maintains, the finning process is cruel and threatens not only the shark population but our entire ecosystem.
“We do respect council’s concern for open dialogue between community members. It is unfortunately a missed opportunity to lead on an environmental issue. They’ve had 18 months to review scientific data but now they’re going to begin,” says Kuenzel.
A spokesman for Chinese merchants in the city applauds council for the move toward further dialogue on the matter.
The task force is to report back to council in early May.
For more information:
www.calgarychinesemerchants.org
