Despite a strict ban on trade, there are still places in Austria where shark fin soup is on the menu. In one key operation, 27 cases were reported.
They sail majestically through the world’s oceans and are at the top of the food chain. Protecting these animals is crucial to the ecological balance of the oceans. Animal protection organizations have been calling for urgent action to protect sharks for years.
Austria has even been a pioneer in shark protection since April. “The import of shark products is now subject to the strictest requirements and is de facto banned,” says Lukas Hammer, climate spokesman for the Green Party and chairman of the Environment Committee.
However, extensive research by the Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) during the summer months clearly shows that the news about this ban has not yet spread everywhere. More than a thousand locations were checked and 27 times shark fin soup or meat from protected shark species was found on the menu.
There were hits in almost every state; in Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Styria, a striking number of shark fin soups were discovered.
Remove from menu
VGT activist Sandy P. Peng says: “Sharks do not belong on the table or on the menu! Sharks are critically endangered due to overfishing and hunting, and the global population has declined by more than 70 percent in the past 50 years. Sharks play a very important role in the marine ecosystem.”
The current VGT investigation shows that urgent enforcement action is needed to implement the important import ban. On a positive note, some of the restaurants affected during the investigation no longer had shark fin soup on the menu when they were re-inspected.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
