Toronto City Council To Vote Monday On Shark Fin Ban

More than 3,000 people join online campaign to ban the sale of shark fin in Toronto


TORONTO, ONTARIO - A proposed ban on the sale of shark fins will be up for a final vote before the Toronto City Council this Monday.

When: 9am, Monday, October 24
Where: Council Chamber, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
What: Toronto votes on shark fin ban after thousands join explosive campaign.

The vote comes after more than 3,000 people from across the city joined an online petition campaign launched by the organization Shark Truth on Change.org, the world's fastest-growing platform for social change. Shark Truth plans to deliver the petition to Toronto's Councillors before Monday's vote, and the non-profit is hoping to gather at least 10,000 signatures over the weekend.

More than 73 million sharks are killed every year through finning, a process where fishermen slice off sharks' fins, then throw the fish overboard to bleed to death or drown. Brantford City, Ontario; Hawaii, and most recently California, have all passed shark fin bans.

"Toronto is a trendsetter for Canada - we're looking to them for leadership on shark fin issues," said Claudia Li, founder of Shark Truth, a conservation non-profit that launched the online petition campaign on Change.org. "The final vote is going to set a new precedent for protecting vulnerable species."

The bill's supporters say the ban is needed to protect struggling shark populations. Up to 73 million sharks are killed by finning each year to meet the growing demand for shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese dish served at important events like weddings and banquets. The practice has pushed some shark species' populations to decline in recent years by as much as 90 percent.

"With the recent passage of California's shark fin ban, all eyes are now on Toronto," said Sarah Parsons, Senior Organizer at Change.org. "It's been incredible to watch as Asian-Canadians and other Toronto residents use Change.org and other tools to effectively organize for a shark fin ban in the city."

The ban, which would prohibit the sale, distribution, and consumption of shark fin in Toronto, was initially proposed by City Councillors John Parker, Glenn De Baeremaeker, and Kristyn Wong-Tam. The Council's Licensing and Standards Committee voted unanimously on October 13th to move the bill forward for a full Council vote.

The City Council is set to decide the bill's fate this Monday, October 24th, but depending on time, the vote may get pushed until Tuesday. Councillors will meet on 10/24 at 9AM at City Hall. The shark fin ban vote is the ninth item on the agenda.

To view live signature totals on Shark Truth's petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/support-a-shark-fin-ban-in-toronto

Contact information for petition signers in your area can be arranged upon request:


Sarah Parsons

Senior Organizer, Change.org

(860) 402-0516, sarah@change.org


Journalists interested in contacting Toronto City Councillors should try:


John Parker, Toronto City Councillor

councillor_parker@toronto.ca

(416) 392-0215



Glenn De Baeremaeker, Toronto City Councillor

councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto.ca

(416) 392-7428

Kristyn Wong-Tam, Toronto City Councillor
councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca
(416) 392-7903


For more information on Shark Truth group, please visit:
http://www.sharktruth.com/
Shark Truth is a Vancouver-based, grassroots non-profit focused on promoting education, awareness, and action around sharks and shark fin issues. The group's long-term goal is to stop all shark fin consumption in Canada within five to ten years.

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