SHARK EXHIBIT TO CURB SHARK FIN SOUP SALE

September 30, 2005

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Exhibit aims to slow soup sales

Xu Wei

2005-09-30 Beijing Time

THE Shanghai Ocean Aquarium will host a special exhibition about sharks starting

tomorrow, to educate people about the species and perhaps convince a few

visitors to stop eating shark's fin soup.

The aquarium and WildAid, a non-profit wildlife conservation organization, have

invested 5 million yuan (US$617,000) to put on the exhibition, " I Love Sharks —

Our Ocean, Our Home, " which will run through the end of the year.

Over 20 species including the nurse shark, hammerhead shark and Japanese carpet

shark will be put on exhibit.

Organizers said they want to provide visitors a chance to unveil the mystery of

sharks, and more importantly, to raise public awareness about protecting the

species.

Shark's fins, known in China as yuchi or " fish wing, " is believed by many

Chinese to benefit the immune system, digestion and blood pressure. Shark's fin

soup, an expensive dish, is particularly popular in Southeast Asia — the Chinese

mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

" On the Chinese mainland, it costs at least 200 yuan for a small bowl of soup, "

said Shi Weizhe, director of the aquarium and an expert on sharks. " But actually

its flavor and nutritional value are played up. "

Every year around 10,000 tons of shark fins are shipped around the world for

trade.

A well-known shark fin restaurant on the Nanjing Road W. says it serves about

100 customers a day, and most of them order the shark's fin soup, which ranges

in price from 280 yuan to 1,280 yuan a bowl.

" Nearby office workers and businessmen eat here regularly, " said an employee of

the restaurant, who declined to be named. " They're convinced of the traditional

fame and benefits of the dish. "

Of the approximately 490 species of sharks in the world, 100 species are

exploited, and about 20, such as the white shark and whale shark, are

endangered.

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