Shark Fin Debate in San Francisco - 旧金山鱼翅的辩论

San Francisco Chronicle recently reported, Calif. shark fin bill would ban Chinese delicacy, that

A law that would ban the sale and distribution of shark fins in California, preventing hundreds of restaurants from serving an ancient Chinese delicacy, was introduced Monday, igniting an emotional debate between conservationists and Asian leaders.

The bill, introduced by Assemblymen Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, and Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, would halt all California trade in shark fins, which are used to make Chinese shark fin soup, a tradition at banquets among Chinese people around the world.

Assembly Bill 376 says the California market for the expensive dish is helping drive rampant illegal shark finning in international waters. The practice involves cutting off the tails and fins of living sharks, which are then thrown back into the ocean to suffer and die.

The shark fin trade is believed by many scientists to be responsible for a catastrophic collapse in the worldwide shark population.

The proposed law, coming on the heels of a similar ban passed in Hawaii last year, faces considerable opposition from Chinese American restaurant and market owners, sea food distributors and fishermen.

State Sen. Leland Yee, who is running for mayor of San Francisco, called AB376 an "attack on Asian culture."

Mr. Yee's argument is pure nonsense.  Asian culture doesn't lie on shark fins.  Many Asians never had any chance to sample a drop of shark fin soup.  It had usually be consumed by the super rich and powerful, till perhaps Costco jumped in.  Consuming shark fins had no inherent connection to Asian costume, and it is not a culture.  Even if there was some linkages to certain traditional ways amongst a group of people, it has to change.  Chinese people used to bind women's feet, had emperors, and men had concubines.  Would Mr. Yee oppose the changing of those as well? 

I was glad to see that not all people with Asian heritage agree with his self-serving argument.  SF Chronicle continued: "Shark fin has lost a little luster among some Chinese Americans who are aware of the environmental consequences."

I unknowingly had a serving of shark fin soup more than 10 years ago and had avowed never to have it again and am trying hard to persuade my parents and other relatives to stay away from it.  I hope more enlightened people would realize that some "traditions" must change.

Huan Da Yu, a Chinese herbalist (left), and David Lu conclude a news conference opposing the proposed legislation at the Far East Cafe by eating shark fin soup.     中醫 Huan Da Yu 和 David Lu　以在遠東咖啡廳吃魚翅湯来结束反對立法建議的新聞發布會。
Photo: David Paul Morris / Special To The Chronicle

舊金山紀事報近日報導，美國加利福尼亞州魚翅法案將禁止中式美食：

週一提交的一項法律，將在加利福尼亞州禁止銷售和分發鯊魚鰭，禁止數百名餐廳提供一個古老的中國美食，點燃了亚裔头面人物和环保界的激烈辯論。

由州代表Jared Huffman（民主党-San Rafael）, and Paul Fong（民主党-Cupertino）提交的該法案，將停止所有加州鯊魚鰭貿易，鯊魚鰭是用來做魚翅湯的，一個各地世界中國人宴席的傳統。

議376法案說，加州市場為这一貴菜，正推動在國際水域的猖獗非法狩猎鯊魚鰭。這種狩猎涉及活生生切斷鯊魚尾巴和鰭，然後再把它拋回海裡去，任其受苦和死亡。

許多科學家認為魚翅貿易应为災難性的全球鯊魚數量崩潰負責。

擬議的法律，紧随去年在夏威夷通過的一個類似的禁令，面臨相當大的美國華人餐館和市場業主，海洋食品分銷商和漁民的反對。

州參議員Leland Yee，正競選舊金山市長，稱AB376為 “攻击亞洲文化。”

Yee先生的說法純粹是無稽之談。亞洲文化並不在存在於鯊魚鰭。許多亞洲人從來沒有任何機會來尝一滴魚翅湯。魚翅湯通常被超級富豪消费，直到Costco 之类加入后变得更普及。魚翅不是亞洲习俗不可分的成分，它也不是一種文化。即使有它与某一些一群人的某些傳統方式有聯繫，　它也必須改變。中國人过去让婦女缠足，有皇帝，男子纳妄。 Yee先生也反對改变這些吗？

我很高興地看到，並非所有亞裔都同意他的自我服務的說法。紀事報繼續說：“魚翅一小部分華裔美國人中已經失去了光澤，他们知道其環境後果。”


10多年前，我在不知覺情况下吃了一次魚翅湯。从此，我公開宣稱拒绝魚翅湯，我还在努力說服我的父母和其他親戚不吃它。我希望更多的開明的人都會認識到，一些“傳統”，必須改變。