Peninsula Hotels will ban the shark soup

Peninsula Hotels will ban the shark soup
Peninsula Hotels will ban the shark soup
One of the leading hotel chains in Asia - Peninsula Hotels - will refuse from cooking the famous Chinese delicacy shark fin soup in its restaurants. In the hotel restaurants belonging to the Peninsula Hotels shark fin soup will be excluded from the menus in January 2012.

Clement Kwok, who is responsible for the restaurants in the Peninsula Hotels, told the press that exclusion of the delicacy from the restaurant's menu is aimed to preserve the ecosphere of the Pacific Ocean.

Each year about 73 million sharks are killed in the world mainly just for their fins. The rest of the fish is usually thrown overboard.

It is hard to tell how effective for the environment will be the refusal of Peninsula hotel from the shark fins. Currently, a gourmet soup is served mainly in the Asian hotel companies. As a rule, it is prepared for the festive occasions - during major briefings, seminars and conferences. In the Peninsula hotel, which are located in the U.S. (Chicago and Beverly Hills), this dish is not included into the menu.

Peninsula notes that the decision to refuse from the shark fin soup in the network was made by company without consulting with its clients. Starting from April 2011 the hotel restaurant customers were offered another dish as an alternative to the chef shark soup.

For China the shark fin soup is a legendary delicacy. It was served at the court of several Chinese emperors. Shark soup is obligatory served at high-level ceremonies and is a kind of respect that the hosts show their guests.

It should be noted that for Asia the question of preserving the environment has recently become very important. Peninsula Hotels is not the first tourist company, which submitted the eco-initiative. Not long ago cruise port of Singapore announced the beginning of collaboration with the Foundation for Nature to promote the advertising campaign in the port for preservation of coral forests in the South Pacific.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 27/11/2011

Comments (3)

Lach

(28/11/2011)

nice one!

Mick Dowers

(28/11/2011)

The Australian Anti Shark Finnign Alliance would like to congratulate the Peninsula Hotel chain for making such a positive step forward in removing shark fin soup from its menu. This is a huge showing of respect and concern for sharks and our marine environment and our thanks go out to those involved in making and implementing this important decision.

Carolyn Budai

(28/11/2011)

Perry's Bridge Reptile Park thanks you for showing concern for the environment without needing to be pressured into it. Your pro-active stance is a great example for other tourism oriented companies and their clientele.