Call for end to fin hunts

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
YARRA Ranges’ Young Environmental Achiever of the Year has had the backing of the council in his aim to make the Yarra Ranges a fin free ranges.
Jordan Crook, 19, has been officially campaigning since April, educating the public on the impacts of shark finning with the aim of ridding the Yarra Ranges of shark fin soup.
He succeeded in that last week, with the Yarra Ranges Council passing a motion to support Mr Crook and encourage at least six Yarra Ranges businesses to take shark fin soup off their menus.
Speaking in front of the councillors at the 24 July meeting, he said there were between 75 and 100 million sharks slaughtered for their fins each year.
“It is an ecologically destructive practice of shark finning,” he said.
He made a passionate plea to councillors that if it were “dolphin fin soup” there would be outrage.
“These sharks are slaughtered for their fins, and the bodies are dumped back in the ocean,” he said.
Although Australia has made it illegal to bring shark fins back to shore without the rest of the shark attached, some businesses still import fins from poorer nations where there are no laws.
The councillors said they were impressed with their young ambassador, and fully supported his actions.
Cr Samantha Dunn said it was important to take on the advocacy role, particularly when a young person was driving the campaign.
“I congratulate him for engaging with local government and bringing this issue out,” she said.
“If this motion is passed it proves Jordan is a leader, not us.”
Cr Noel Cliff said it was good to see young people getting in there and having a go, “but its good to see you starting here, we deal with people down the bottom and this is where the pressure will come from”.
Cr Len Cox said the thought that 100 million sharks were being killed a year was absolutely horrific.
“Sharks haven’t got as good a reputation as dolphins but when you look at the number of shark attacks on humans, compared to the number of sharks being murdered by humans, there’s no competition,” he said.
Cr Richard Higgins said supporting the banning of illegal practices would also support the sustainable industry Australia has.