20090831 Expert: Beware shark fins for health, and green

clipped from www.chinadaily.com.cn Steve Trent, president of US-headquartered WildAid, said it was important for China, the world's largest consumer of shark fins, to promote public awareness of the protection of this animal which is feared on the verge of extinction. Trent said consumers should find alternatives for shark fins and urged wasteful fishermen to harvest all of the shark instead of taking only the fins and discarding the rest. According to a 2009 WildAid report, the collapse and possible extinction of sharks would cause widespread ecological disruption with ensuing massive economic losses and decreased food security. Over-fishing, wasteful and destructive fishing practices and increasing demand for shark fin were blamed as the leading causes threatening the existence of sharks, the report said. Trent also called on China's government to promote international cooperation on shark conservation and management. In addition, China was considering listing certain endangered sharks as protected, Li said.