The real interesting thing about this is, that you can make imitation shark's fin soup that is so realistically good, that 99% of diners won't be able to tell the difference. But, of course, you won't be able to charge the 30 bucks a bowl for it, which is the real issue. In essence, the world in going to eventually eat imitation shark's fin soup anyway, whether people want to or not. The reason behind my thought is simple, either the ban it and people are forced to eat imitation substitutes; or sharks become so over fished that they become extinct, forcing people to eat imitation substitutes. So bottom line is, people will eventually eat substitutes instead of real shark fin; the question is just a matter of when. So should California ban it? Nah. It should tax the bejesus out of it like cigarettes and liquor. Shark fin should be considered a luxury item, and supplies should strictly controlled. Make it cost an arm and a leg. Instead of 30 bucks a bowl, make that 3000 bucks a bowl. The restaurant only makes the 30 bucks, while it must also collect 2970 tax per bowl for the state of California, LOL... In such a scenario, people would lose their taste for it rather quickly.
first time i've ever seen a typo from you ralph! more or less, i agree with your post and how shark fin should be made a luxury item. as far as the price, i think 3000 is overdoing it -- 300 bucks a bowl is expensive enough to make me turn to imitation shark fin.
LOL, thanks for the sharp eyes (fixed it). As for the pricing; yeah, I was just being ridiculously unreasonable to illustrate a point. People would have to be crazy rich to eat it. But, who should profit from such craziness? Certainly not the robber baron eatery owner. Let the money go back to the tax payers, ie. help out the government (which is what other vice surcharges, tobacco, alcohol, impose).
I think Toronto's trying to do the same thing, but imho I think its just racisim, its the same thing with seals, only taking the skin and nothing else is used. Heck they dont even eat from it most of the times, but Shark fins at least we eat it right?
There isn't the option on the poll that it should be controlled by the Gov. but most of the shark has to be used not just the shark fins =/ Think a control needs to be done considering it is harsh to let the sharks die out in the sea without any fins. Although a delicacy for the Chinese culture and pretty overpriced too, people don't eat purely for hte taste as it is tasteless itself, purely for eatting it coz it's expensive like abolone, truffle, birds nest (yeen wor) etc...
arghhhh better get to thailand and eat up on the good quality shark fin before it runs out or that i can't afford it >.< makes me feel like eating some now... but yeah... its always inhumane what they do =/
they don't eat seal because its toxic. they don't eat shark meat (not the fin) because there's no market for it. Funny how 85% of shark fin consumption is in Cali. Now we know where the crazy asians at.
