KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysia hotel and resort in the country is joining the fight against the declining shark population by ending its use of sharks for soup. Berjaya Hotels and Resorts announced it was pushing forward on its efforts to protect the world's rapidly declining shark population from rampant overfishing. The popular Chinese Shark fin soup, often served at weddings and corporate functions, has left the global shark population in decline, with experts warning of potential extinction due to the overfishing. Berjaya Land Berhad executive director Leong Wy Joon signed a corporate pledge to come on board the “I'm FINished With FINS” (Save The Shark) Campaign. The campaign is being carried out by the Singaporean chapter of Shark Savers, a non-profit marine conservation organisation dedicated to saving sharks through awareness, education and grassroots action. Leong's announcement that the corporation would no longer serve the soup in any of its 18 hotels and resorts around the world comes hot on the heels of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and the Peninsula Hotels Groups that did the same. Both the hotel chains made similar pledges before Chinese New Year this year. “I believe a trend is emerging, and applaud the Shangri-La and Peninsula which have already initiated this, because at the end of the day, it's not too much of a bottom line,” Leong said during the Tioman World Ocean Day celebrations at Berjaya Tioman Resort on Saturday. “And, if we all wait for each other (to stop eating shark fin soup), by the time peer pressure gets going, it might be too late,” he said. It is estimated that 73 million sharks are killed every year to fuel a billion dollar shark fin industry that has in recent decades, reached unsustainable levels. At the same time, the Sabah government is contemplating whether to ban shark fishing in its waters, citing concerns for its tourism and diving industries. Animal rights groups in Southeast Asia have told Bikyamasr.com they hope Sabah will move forward on its plans to end the “destructive” fishing habits and “help rebuild the shark population in the region.”
