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Shark fin ban in Delta

You soon won’t be able to order shark fin soup in Delta. City council on Monday will consider giving preliminary approval for a business bylaw amendment banning the sale of shark fins.
delta shark fin
Kendra Luckow urged Delta council last year to pass a bylaw that would prohibit the sale and trade of shark fins in the city.

You soon won’t be able to order shark fin soup in Delta.

City council on Monday will consider giving preliminary approval for a business bylaw amendment banning the sale of shark fins.

Boundary Bay resident Kendra Luckow last year came forward to council urging the city to pass a bylaw that would prohibit the sale and trade of shark fins. Council at the time considered her request but ended up only reiterating its 2013 position to lobby senior government on the issue.

“If Delta was to lobby the provincial and federal government that would be fantastic, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Luckow said afterward, having gathered a large petition.

Staff, noting it was a national and international issue, suggested it could amend the business licence bylaw to try to prohibit it, but added that a 2013 report to council noted the potential of the bylaw being challenged.

A new staff report, however, notes a bylaw in Delta could be used in the continued lobbying efforts to show senior levels of government that the issue is important at a local level.

The proposed maximum fine for possessing, trading, selling, or distributing shark fins would be $1,000.

Several municipalities in the region have similar bylaws.

At last check, there were no restaurants in Delta serving shark fins.