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Singapore students protest shark finning with mock shark attack ( 2003-09-07 15:37) (Agencies)
Students in shark costumes used an annual charity walk Sunday to protest against rising consumption of shark's fin soup, which they said is decimating shark populations.
Shark fins are more lucrative than shark meat, and fishermen have taken to slicing them off and tossing the rest of the shark _ sometimes still alive _ back in the water. ``It's a cruel and gruesome practice,'' said economics student and demonstrator Serena Tay, 19. ``The fins themselves are tasteless and the rest of the body parts are just wasted.'' More than a dozen university students took part in the demonstration, funded by local animal rights group Wild Aid. Shark's fin is prized for its smooth, crunchy texture. It sells for about 70 Singapore dollars (US$40) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) in Singapore. Tay said she doubts Singaporeans will stop eating shark's fin soon, but hopes that by educating the public the amount consumed will decline. Singapore imported 632 tons of dried shark's fin last year, up considerably from the 507 tons in 2001, according to a statement from Wild Aid. Soup made from the fins is enjoyed by many among the city-state's ethnic Chinese. It is commonly served as a delicacy at Chinese banquets and weddings. Ethnic Chinese make up about 78 percent of the 4 million people in Singapore,
a wealthy Southeast Asian city-state.
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