Interestingly enough, many of the commenters on the story have given the article a thumbs down, myself included with my comment. But by some miraculous process every comment disparaging CNN and/or the article has a thumbs up beside it. Wonder how that happened......

I posted a comment on their site. Let's see if they publish it. For the record here is what I posted:-

Er guys, why are you promoting shark fin? (Item no3 on your Macau 'Eat' list)

Has nobody told you that eating shark fin is extremely cruel and very harmful to the marine environment?

Sharks are apex predators and a crucial part of the marine food chain.

The practice of slicing off a shark's fin while it is still alive is not only cruel, but is utterly unsustainable.

This is because the excessive demand for shark fin is causing the rapid decline of many species, with several species of shark already nearing extinction.

You may want to check out the following link to a local NGO, the Hong Kong Shark Foundation, who are doing great things to try and ban this ignorant and primitive 'culinary' tradition:-

http://www.hksharkfoundation.org/

Most better-educated Chinese who know better, don't eat the stuff anymore.

And here is a short film I have made on the subject:-

http://www.alexhoffordphotography.com/node/2278

If you care for the world we live in please, please, please refrain from eating shark fin soup...

Alex Hofford

http://www.alexhoffordphotography.com