Yahoo – AFP,
12 June 2014
 |
The
US-owned Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore, shown here in 2013,
has is to
stop serving shark fin at its restaurants, the latest boycott of the
contentious delicacy welcomed by animal rights activists. (Photo: Roslan
Rahman)
|
The
US-owned Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore has announced it will stop
serving shark fin at its restaurants, the latest boycott of the contentious
delicacy welcomed Thursday by animal rights activists.
The casino,
part of Las Vegas gaming magnate Sheldon Adelson's portfolio, said the removal
of shark fin dishes from its menus is a "bold testament to our commitment
to reducing our environmental impact".
Its huge
expo and convention centre, which held over 70 trade shows last year, will also
cease serving the dish.
The casino
is the latest among a string of Singapore-based companies to boycott shark fin
consumption following years of lobbying by animal rights activists.
Singapore
is the world's second largest shark fin trading territory after Hong Kong,
according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Shark fin
is seen by many east Asians as a delicacy and is often served as soup at
expensive Chinese banquets.
More than
70 million sharks are killed worldwide every year, with a majority of fins
consumed in Chinese markets, according to environmental group WWF.
Jennifer
Lee, founder of Project Fin, a local group campaigning against shark fin
consumption, said the casino's decision is another milestone for animal rights
activists.
"Hopefully
this will put pressure on other companies to jump on the bandwagon as well to
do their part to save our marine ecosystem," she told AFP.
Elaine Tan,
chief executive of WWF Singapore, commended the casino for its "foresight
and leadership in corporate sustainability".
"Sharks
are a crucial part of marine ecosystems and their populations have a direct
impact on fish stocks, which in turn affects many things, including our food
security in the future," she said.
Singapore's
largest supermarket chains stopped sales of shark fin products in 2012, while
major hotels, including Shangri-La and Swissotel the Stamford, have also
stopped serving them.
Singapore's
other casino operated by Malaysia's Genting Group does not serve shark fin,
according to its website.
Hong Kong's
government last year said it would stop serving shark fin at official functions
to set a "good example".
Fiji's Air Pacific bans 'unsustainable' shark fins
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Korean Air Joins Cathay Pacific in Curbing Shark Fin Transport
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