Calgary Shark fin ban tossed back in the tank

CALGARY – Calgary city council has decided to swim against the current and not push through a bylaw that would have banned the sale and consumption of shark fin in the city.

Aldermen have voted to indefinitely table a decision on the ban, opting instead to let a group opposed to shark finning work on alternatives to reduce consumption.

The vote means the bylaw will be shelved, with no plan at this point to bring it back.

Council started investigating a ban last July, then drafted a bylaw and later created a task force on the issue.

Alderman Andre Chabot (shah-BOH’) says the long debate on the matter wasn’t a complete waste of time because it’s made the public more aware of environmental concerns about sharks.

Chabot says a ban would never have worked because shark fins are under federal jurisdiction, noting that a similar bylaw passed by Toronto was struck down by the Ontario Superior Court last November. (CHQR)

Source: iPolitics

Note by Shark Year Magazine:

Related previous article : 16. October 2012 Calgary City one step closer to banning shark fin soup

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