Ethics come before traditional cuisine on national banquet tables

A spokesperson for the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association (CAPPMA) recently delivered a strange comment at a conference. He not only labeled eating shark fins as part of Chinese traditional culture, but also argued that it would be a great waste of resources if people boycott this food. Moreover, the association is now planning to produce a white paper that will include these comments.

But professional associations like the CAPPMA shouldn't act like industry unions that serve a particular interest. They shouldn't align themselves with interest groups and become their representative.

Instead, they need to give a fair and objective explanation about their professions based on their professional knowledge and experience, rather than deceiving and manipulating the public.

It doesn't matter if eating shark fins is a traditional Chinese habit. The public has come to realize that it's a cruel and destructive practice, and continuing to promote the consumption of shark fins and insisting on producing a white paper to enforce this mistaken idea is a breach of professional ethics.

It is true that culinary culture does traditionally play a very important role in Chinese society. While it does require food to be produced in a sophisticated fashion, it also encourages frugality. Traditional Chinese ethics scorn wasteful behavior, which is why even today people still prefer to use the most ordinary ingredients in cooking.

The art of cooking can ultimately turn these simple materials into delicious meals. China's culinary culture echoes modern food ethics in that they both object to excessive consumption and the unnecessary hunting and consumption of other species that will damage the balance of the ecosystem.

Shark fins have been one of the four most luxury ingredients in China's cuisine for quite some time. But it, along with swallow nests, abalone and ginseng, cannot represent China's real food culture, because they were, for most of China's history, only available to the rich and powerful. The producing, processing and making of these dishes also contradict traditional values that call for frugality and harmony with nature.

Many environmental protection activists have rightly pointed out that behind each shark fin or bear paw, another luxury food ingredient, is a bloody and merciless killing. Taking a shark's life simply to consume a tiny part of it is brutal.

Besides, many nutritionists have proved through scientific research that consuming shark fins or bear paws bring no more benefit than an ordinary diet and no better cure than the placebo effect can offer. The only difference is probably that they taste different from other ordinary food, but consuming them is really not necessary for anyone's health.

Chinese society has now begun to form a consensus that eating shark fins is morally incorrect, thanks to the tireless effort by international organizations and campaigns aimed at saving sharks.

The Chinese government has also agreed to ban shark fins from government banquet menus within three years. Given this society-wide understanding, any advocacy of the consumption of shark fins will hardly be effective.

China has made great progress on protecting the environment and animal rights, and society is increasingly aware on these matters. We cannot tolerate any reactionary attempts or comments that will jeopardize our achievements.

There are many traditional consumption habits that contradict the spirit of a modern society. We will need to get rid of them one by one with the support of society, and build our soft power along the way. Defending these outdated bad habits with shameless lies is not part of a great civilization.