THE UK based Shark Trust has offered three ‘Shark Champion’ awards to leading Chinese figures who have started campaigning to control the trade in shark fins in China.
Mr Ding Liguo and Mr Wan Jie are both members of the highest legislative body in China, the National Peoples Council. Inspired by Mr Zhang Xingsheng who is the Managing Director of the North Asia region of the Nature Conservancy they have started a process to bring in legislation to reduce the sale of sharks fins in China. Fulfilling the demand for shark fin soup is the main reason that shark populations are being unsustainably fished all over the world.
Billionaire industrialist Mr Ding Liguo was recently quoted as saying: “Only legislation can stop shark fin trading and reduce the killing of sharks. China should take the lead in banning this trade.”
Richard Peirce, chairman of the Shark Trust commented: “If the biggest consumers of sharks fin soup keep consuming there will always be a supply trade, and no matter what conservation groups do around the world the effectiveness of their actions will be limited unless consumption can be regulated.”
He continued: “Our ‘Shark Champion’ awards are voted on by the Shark Trust board and offered to companies and individuals who we feel deserve recognition for their actions promoting shark conservation. To be able to offer the award to three leading Chinese figures is more than we could have dreamt. It’s not the beginning of the end of shark over fishing, but it’s a positive start. All three of those who were offered this award have now accepted and I hope to present their awards towards the end of May, at an official ceremony hosted by His Excellency the British Ambassador to China.”
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