BANGKOK, Thailand (16 Aug 2004) -- An alliance of Thai shark fin traders lost a 110 million baht (2.6 million dollar) lawsuit they filed against a wildlife group which claims the Asian delicacy is putting both sharks and consumers at risk. The US-based conservation group WildAid was hit by the lawsuit three years ago after claiming the delicacy was behind a worldwide decline in shark numbers and that toxic levels of mercury stored in the fins posed a hazard to consumers. A group calling itself the Bangkok Association of Shark Fin Restaurants had accused WildAid of damaging their businesses through the awareness campaign. Hailing Monday's decision as a major victory, WildAid said the ruling would now legally allow the group to renew its campaign to have shark fin banned from Thai dinner tables. "We are very happy about today's court decision," WildAid spokesman Steven Galster said in a statement, while claiming that the group's report on shark fin toxicity to consumers had since been backed up by tests in Thailand. He said government reports from Australia, New Zealand and the United States also backed up claims of high mercury levels in the fins. | | For status-hungry Chinese throughout Asia and the world, shark fin soup is an acquired distaste. According to WildAid, sharks are the oceans top predators and so end up as receptacles for all the toxic material swallowed by smaller fish feeding in polluted coastal waters. Shark fin soup is highly regarded among Chinese populations for its taste and supposed medicinal properties and is a top draw at restaurants in Bangkok's Chinatown. A bowl of premium-quality shark fin soup can cost as much as 100 US dollars. (Editor's Note: According to ScubaPoll.com evaluations by over a quarter million divers worldwide, WildAid is rated among the world's top three conservation groups and top 10 ScubaLinx sites) SOURCE - AFP |
