HK Disney scraps shark's fin soup

By Chris Hogg
BBC, Hong Kong

Environmentalists say methods of collecting fins are cruel

Disney is withdrawing plans to serve shark's fin soup at its new theme park due to open in September in Hong Kong.

The company had resisted pressure from environmentalists who argued that Disney would be contributing to the sharp decline in shark populations.

But Disney announced the change on Saturday saying it was unable to find ecologically sound suppliers.

It is a U-turn from a company that had insisted on serving shark's fin soup out of sensitivity to local customs.

Barrage of complaints

Disney had planned to offer the expensive dish at banquets and special events.

But that decision exposed the company to a barrage of complaints from environmentalists around the world.

They say the mass harvesting of the gelatinous cartilage for the soup has led to a marked decline in shark stocks.

And they say it is cruel - in particular the process known as finning, where a fin is hacked off and the shark thrown back into the sea to die.

Disney tried to broker a compromise, offering to buy only from suppliers who could prove their ecological credentials.

Now, though, the company has admitted defeat.

It says it has been unable to find an environmentally sustainable fishing source.

Environmental groups have given the decision a warm welcome.