Port Moody moves to ban Shark Fin Trade

City of Port Moody

Regular Meeting of CouncilCouncil Chambers

Tuesday,  April 10, 2012 at 7:12 PM

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2. Public Input

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Rebeka Breder, Port Moody, spoke in favour of the proposal to ban
shark fin products in the City of Port Moody. As a lawyer, her research
indicates that under the general provisions of the Community Charter,
Port Moody Council can adopt bylaws related to animals and the
regulation of businesses. She also noted a number of cities have put
such bans in place. She submitted a memorandum she has prepared
on the jurisdiction of British Columbia municipalities to ban shark fin products.

April Facey, Port Moody, spoke in support of the proposed ban on
shark fin products. She related that when industry closed in
Chemainus where she lived at the time, the community banded
together and became a tourism destination, noting that if communities
pull together they can make great changes. She suggested that as a
community, Port Moody could bring the change that the shark fin ban
suggests.

Group of school children and their teacher from Moody Elementary
School attended and made a presentation on the research the class
has done related to shark fin harvesting. The highlighted many of the
negative impacts of the practice. The students read a letter that they
had previously sent to Mayor and Council expressing their concerns
for the environmental impact of the current practice of use of shark fin
products.

Susan Ruzic, Port Moody resident and Teacher Librarian from Moody
Elementary School spoke in support a ban on shark fin products. She
also suggested Council look at the triple bottom line when considering
bylaws, that is the financial, social and environmental impacts.

Gabriel Wildgen, resident of Montreal, Quebec and campaigner with
Humane Society International, spoke in support of a ban on the sale
of shark fin products. He outlined the activities that Humane Society
International is engaged in to promote bans on use of shark fin
products.

Phil Gillies, resident of Brantford, Ontario spoke on behalf of the
Conservation Society of Canada indicating that he and his colleagues
started the process over a year ago to ban shark fin products. He
encouraged Port Moody to be the first municipality in British Columbia
to ban shark fin products. He outlined numerous issues upon which
this decision should be made, including environmental conservation,
health, cruelty and law and order.

Rob Sinclair, resident of Toronto, Ontario urged Council to adopt a
bylaw in Port Moody banning use of shark fin products. He provided a
number of examples where governments in other countries are
prohibiting use of shark fin products.

David Spence, Port Moody, indicated he is uneasy regarding the
issues of the shark fin bylaw and the proposed bylaw for baseline
industrial activity and public consultation on the basis that those
suggests lean towards the litigious in that it is an effort to deal with
ethical and moral issues by establishing legal and statutory tools to
govern ourselves. He expressed concern about adopting bylaws to
regulate how we should be as a community. He noted that there has
already been consultation by industry in the past and the direction
proposed is narrow and not perhaps as creative as it could be. He
also spoke in support of the request for a proclamation for national
volunteer week next week.

3. General Matters

Jeff Congram – Shark fin ban

3.1  Delegation Application dated February 21, 2012
File: 0320-02

Mr. Congram spoke in support of his request that Council implement a
ban on the trade, sale and distribution of shark fins in Port Moody. He
outlined his reasons for proposing this which includes the ecological
impact, health concerns, the fact that the fins are used only to add
texture rather than flavour and the cruelty associated with harvesting
the shark fins.

MP Fin Donelly also appeared before Council to respond to questions
regarding activities in Ottawa on this issue.

Moved, seconded and CARRIED
THAT this item be dealt with this evening.

Moved, seconded and CARRIED
THAT the City of Port Moody implement a ban on the possession,
trade, sale and distribution of shark fins or their derivative
products with the exception of possession for educational bona
fide research purposes.

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 Source: City of Port Moody Regular Council Meeting – April 10, 2012