The Penang government is the first state administration in the country to say no to shark's fin soup in support of the international save the sharks campaign.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today inked the pledge for its state functions to be free of shark's fin dishes.
World Wildlife Fund Malaysia representatives who were present congratulated the Penang government on making the pledge in favour of biodiversity.
Also present were representatives of organisations who supported the initiative, Penang Master Builders and Building Materials Dealers Association, Penang Chinese Town Hall, and Penang Real Estate and Housing Developers Association.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment exco Phee Boon Poh said the state’s move to ban the serving and consumption of the perceived delicacy at its events was to raise awareness among government staff and the public of the cruelty of killing sharks for their fins.
Although the shark's fin trade was illegal in the European Union and 27 other nations, he said, it was still prevalent in international waters and countries where the ban was poorly enforced.
He said Malaysia was among the countries in the region with the most diverse species of sharks, but of the 63 species in Malaysian waters, 10 were near extinction.
He said in 2012, Malaysia imported almost 1,900 metric tonnes of shark-related products worth RM19.5 million.
"If Malaysians reduce their consumption of these products, the demand will decrease as well," he said. – July 30, 2015.
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