GEORGE TOWN, Jan 18 – The Penang government is collaborating with non-governmental organisation, World Wide Fund (WWF) Malaysia launched the “My Fin My Life” campaign at First Avenue Mall today to reduce shark fin consumption and promote sustainable seafood.The campaign was launched by state Welfare, Caring Community and Environment Committee chairman, Phee Boon Poh.
Also present were WWF Malaysia executive director, Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma; Mrs. Times Square 2015 (2nd Runner Up), Sophia Khor; Mrs. Malaysia Globe 2015 (Mrs. Perfect Figure), Vassugi Sandrasagaran; Mrs. Queen Global International Malaysia 2015 (2nd Runner Up), Cherrie Ooi and Mrs Noble Northern Region Year 2015 (1st Runner Up), Tracy Chan to support for no shark fins.
WWF Malaysia executive director, Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said WWF wanted to have at least 20,000 restaurants and 500 business companies committed to not serving shark fins at their events. In the meantime, he said WWF also would like to have at least 1 million pledges from Malaysian for committed to no shark fins.
WWF had also said after the 1 million pledges, the next step they would do is to urge and cooperation with the federal government to make the changes the rules and regulation that is protecting the shark as protection on animals. Besides that, he said the state government has also pledged not to serve any shark fin soup at all state official functions since June 2015 and some hotel chains have already removed shark fin from their menu and are committed to sourcing for sustainable seafood.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Phee said Malaysia was also ranked as the world’s 9th largest producer of shark products and third largest importer in terms of volume. He said in 2004 alone, Malaysians had increased shark fin consumption from 38 to 366 tonnes in just one year.
“We hope to raise public awareness on the need to reduce shark fin consumption. Shark fin soup traditionally symbolised wealth, power, prestige and honour to the Chinese community, but I hoped that for this coming Chinese New Year celebration, they could use other alternatives to express the same,” he told reporters, here, today.
