Abalone is a seafood delicacy in East Asia and South Africa. Illegal harvesting and trade have all but destroyed population of the sea snails. Traffic is urging consumers to ask their supplier to prove they are legally sourced.Susan Wang/NOAA Fisheries Serv
Abalone is a seafood delicacy in East Asia and South Africa. Illegal harvesting and trade have all but destroyed population of the sea snails. Traffic is urging consumers to ask their supplier to prove they are legally sourced.Susan Wang/NOAA Fisheries ServShark’s fin is usually used in broth and is a traditional Chinese delicacy. Millions of sharks are killed every year in effort to to supply dinner tables. Multiple species of shark are in critical decline as some fisherman cut the fin off the shark and throw the fish back into the water still alive.Creative CommonFacai moss is a black moss and has been eaten in soups for hundreds of years in China. It is believed that the consumption of facai moss will bring wealth to those who eat it. Overharvesting of the moss has led to acres of Chinese greenland turning into desert.Culture ChinaSea cucumber is one of the most overharvested delicacies in Asia today. They are normally harvested in developing countries where there are few or no controls.Dimension GuideHealth tonics are bought and sold daily in China but especially so on Chinese New Year. While most are harmless and legal, some contain illegal ingredients. Wild ginseng, freshwater turtles, sea horses, geckos and even tiger parts can be found in them.China
Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network, has warned the public to be vigilant during Chinese New Year to stamp out the consumption of "over-harvested" food.
Chinese delicacies including sea cucumber and shark's fin are pushing some species to the verge of extinction, said Traffic. Harvesting and consumption of them are not illegal but their popularity with chinese diners is endangering some species.
"During Chinese New Year, friends and families gather to celebrate and exchange gifts, but some of the wildlife products consumed at this time are from highly threatened species, and we urge revellers to avoid the eating or giving of such items," said Dr Jianbin Shi, head of Traffic's China programme.
Luxury mementos made from banned items such as ivory and turtle shell are used in Chinese culture to demonstrate prestige.
"We urge consumers to be cautious - who wants to spoil what should be a joyous New Year celebration by facing the consequences of participating in illegal or unsustainable consumption?" said Shi.
