Dear Editor:
It has come to my attention that John Weston, MP West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, says he may not vote in favour of Bill C-380 that would ban the importation of shark fins into Canada.
Mr. Weston notes that there are measures in place to prevent endangered shark species from entering Canada but, according to Environment Canada, shark fins often arrive in boxes marked "shark fins" with only a weight.
Vancouver Animal Defense League did DNA testing of shark fins here in Vancouver and showed that 86 per cent of these fins were in fact from sharks that have endangered, threatened or vulnerable status as defined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Eight out of the 59 samples came from scalloped and great hammerheads whose stock has been reduced by up to 90 per cent in many parts of the ocean.
Arriving in Canada, in unlabelled boxes, it is impossible to identify species, who caught the sharks and where, or whether illegal fishing methods were used. Chopping fins off sharks, throwing their live bloodied bodies back into the ocean is inhumane and unsustainable.
Mr. Weston also mentions that this bill would penalize fishermen with legitimate, responsible fishing practices. In fact, the opposite is true. Legal fishers would not be at risk because they have no need to hide their product. Also, this ban relates to shark fins only, not sharks as a whole.
Please, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast constituents, contact your MP at John. [email protected]. and ask him to support Fin Donnelly's Bill C-380 on March 28.
Michele Davies North Vancouver
