According to a new study from researchers at the University of Miami, shark fin from sharks in South Florida's coastal waters have been found to contain high concentrations of a neurotoxin that's been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease, as well as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). more ›

“Shark’s fin coup is culturally discriminatory,” said Dr. Giam, noting that there have not been similar high-profile movements against caviar, which is highly endangered according to CITES, or Atlantic blue fin tuna, which is also considered to be endangered. more ›

In light of the recent wave of anti-shark's fin sentiment kicked off by Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Group announcing their ban on shark's fin, shark's fin traders themselves are making their voices heard in a bold, and dare we say slightly ignorant manner. more ›

Led by his love of sharks, Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay embarked on an investigation into shark's fin, the controversial dish that is wildly popular among the middle class in China, and in Chinese communities around the globe. more ›

Earlier this month, we told you about a WildAid public service announcement starring Chinese basketballer Yao Ming that discouraged people from eating shark's fin soup. We weren't able to find a Youku video for you then but here it finally is (English version on Youtube here). Yao has been an ambassador against the shark's fin trade for a few years now since his public pledge in 2006 never to eat shark's fin soup again. In 2007, a small ruckus erupted prior to Yao's wedding dinner in Shanghai when the media reported that shark's fin would be served as the opening dish of the lavish 12-course dinner -- those rumours turned out to be untrue. Yao Ming's role as the anti-shark's fin guy makes great marketing sense because once upon a time, he used to play for a basketball club called the Shanghai Sharks. Last year he purchased his former club and saved it from financial ruin. Now he's doing all he can to ensure his club isn't named after an extinct animal.
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Yesterday, in a taxi, I came across a commercial for WildAid playing on one of those TouchMedia taxi screens. It starred Yao Ming and was about how, if people could see what really happened to sharks for their sharks fin soup, maybe they wouldn't order it next time. I'm not sure if that actually would impact the majority of people who order sharks fin - Chinese people tend to be pretty sanguine about the slaughtering and butchering of animals - but it was a decent commercial nevertheless. So here it is. more ›

• Okay, so this woman’s experience ends up sounding a bit silly, but if you can get past the melodramatic writing there is a lesson to be learned: if you’re uncomfortable eating sharks fin, don’t. Even if you fear you’re being rude to your Chinese hosts about ignoring the delicacy, chances are if you politely explain your qualms about it, they’ll understand and it’ll even make for some interesting dinner conversation. [BBC]
• A Chinese teen has become a folk hero for assassinating a corrupt official everyone in the area hated. [Washington Post]
• Looks like the U.S. isn’t the only one worried about what this Google mess will do to relations. China is also trying to “contain tensions.” [Reuters]

We strongly suspect that this is nothing more than a way to parody Airport Auntie while getting the point across that sharks fin soup is a morally reprehensible delicacy... but there's something about watching Hong Kong people wig out that just tickles our fancy. more ›