Courtesy of WildAid (www.wildaid.org)

17 January 2012

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which operates 72 luxury hotels worldwide, announced on January 17th that it would no longer serve shark fins across its portfolio of properties. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the hub of the shark fin trade, Shangri-La’s announcement comes right before New Year celebrations in China, which is said to be the main season for consuming shark fin soup.

(Taken from Project AWARE newsletter dated Dec 3, 2011)

We have great shark news to share with you. Two important steps for sharks have been taken in the past week as a result of all your hard work, spreading the word, shouting for sharks and petition signing! 

Blessed with rich waters surrounding the shores of Malaysia, it boasts breathtakingly beautiful and rich reefs, and Malaysia is fast becoming one of the leading dive destinations of the world. Be it the west coast or the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, or the island atolls off coast of North Borneo, Malaysia’s dive sites offer rich, diverse and all-encompassing marine ecosystems.

Shark finning has increased over the past decade mainly due to the increasing demand for shark fins in shark fin soup and traditional cures largely in China and Asian countries. In fact, shark fin soup dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Its popularity rose in the late 18th-19th centuries as Chinese people's standard of living had improved and became more affluent. What was considered as a rare delicacies coveted only by emperors, is now an important dish served at occasions such as weddings, banquets, and business deals.