hschwab@charlotteobserver.com When I mentioned shark fin soup in a recent Five to Find on expensive foods, I knew it was rare and considered a culturally traditional luxury item. But I didn't know how the fins were harvested. Reader and scuba diver Chris Roncone enlightened me: Harvesters slice off the fins, then dump the sharks back into the ocean. Unable to swim, the sharks drown. This summer, in a U.S. State Department briefing on wildlife trafficking, the Special Envoy for Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Issues spoke about shark finning, as the process is called. The envoy, Bo Derek (I know, but stay focused), emphasized educating the public. Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Harrison Ford and Olympic athletes are among those who've agreed to help with public service announcements. Legally, places serving the soup are not breaking the...
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