Coun. Kerry Jang announced at a Vision Vancouver banquet earlier this week that Chinese seafood restaurant Floata on Keefer Street had agreed to stop serving the controversial shark fin soup.
A manager at the popular restaurant signed a document stating he: [does] not support or condone the serving of shark fin soup in my restaurant under any circumstance from this day forward.
Its legal to sell shark fin products but critics argue its inhumane and wasteful. Jang has been both applauded and criticized for his campaign against the delicacyin fact hes been harshly condemned in comments posted in the Chinese-language media.
Jang said shark fin soup, which is pricey, is often served as a show of respect to guests.
The purpose of shark fin soup is to give faceto be able to simply say Im giving you the most expensive thing possible because Im honouring you, he explained. Its not because its particularly good, its just simply rare and expensive and by spending that kind of dough on your guests, your honouring them.
But he said the younger generation is not as likely to feel that way, which is evident in many social media responses to Courier shark fin stories.
[View the story " Readers applaud Vancouver restaurant's shark fin decision" on Storify]
