Time to ditch the shark fins, says Maldives minister
Change jobs and change recipes to preserve ecosystem, says fisheries chief at seafood expo
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 03 September, 2014, 3:41am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 03 September, 2014, 3:41am
Amy Nip [email protected]
A seafood platter: China is now the third biggest importer of fish, after the United States and Japan. Photo: Sam Tsang
China should gradually phase out shark fin imports, the Maldives fisheries minister said yesterday during a visit to Seafood Expo Asia in Hong Kong - a city known as the "shark fin capital of the world".
Dr Mohamed Shainee, the island nation's minister of fisheries and agriculture, called on restaurants and retailers in Hong Kong - where about half the global trade in shark fins takes place - to start looking for alternatives.
Preserving the predator was important to sustain the ecosystem, he said at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Shainee added that shark protection areas had been set up off the Maldives before the country imposed a complete ban on shark fishing two years ago. Similarly, other countries could take a gradual approach in favour of an eventual ban.
"I won't say ban all [shark] fishing at once. But people should slowly change to other types of jobs," he said. "Restaurants can develop other types of soups to replace shark's fin soup."
The Maldives is also proud of its sustainable fishing. Fish, including tuna, are caught one at a time using pole and lines instead of nets, so no other marine creatures are caught unintentionally.
Sustainability is a hot topic as the appetite for seafood continues to grow. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations predicts that per capita consumption of fish will reach 20.9kg in 2023, up from 19.2kg last year.
Some 200 companies are exhibiting at the expo, which runs until tomorrow.
Mary Larkin, group vice-president of fair organiser Diversified Communications, said the number of exhibitors had increased 10 per cent from last year, with more companies keen to get a slice of the market in China - now the world's third largest importer of seafood, after the United States and Japan, since 2011.
On top of conventional luxuries like lobster and abalone, exhibitors are interested in introducing products rarely seen in the region.
Exhibitor Lee Fish showcased a moonfish from New Zealand, an almost circular fish with red fins which can grow up to 60kg.
Philippe Moriau of Belgium Direct wants to introduce more flat fish to Hong Kong and the mainland. "The Chinese are becoming quality conscious. They have more belief in products from Europe," he added.
Yannis Pelekanakis, of the Federation of Greek Maricultures, a first-time exhibitor, saw big potential for sea bass and bream in China. "They are great tasting. You can cook them in different ways - baked, steamed or sashimi," he said.
Marni Gunnar Simonsen, of the Faroe Islands, between Norway and Iceland, was another newcomer. "It's 8 degrees Celsius all year round so the seafood is growing a little bit all the time," he said. He was hoping to connect with fine-dining restaurants interested in sea urchins.
