Air China’s joins 35 airline alliance banning shark fin drive is a big shift in wildlife protection attitudes.
China’s national flag carrier Air China has become the first airline in mainland China to ban shark fin cargo, a move highly appreciated by wildlife activists.
China is the major market for shark’s fin soup and medicinal uses of shark’s fin, which is responsible for the killing of tens of millions of sharks annually.
The Chinese national airline shared a statement on their website that the endorsed policy is drive towards the sustainable development goals, and in line with demand from stakeholders for more ethical sourcing practices.
Air China said in its official statement. “We understand the community’s desire to promote responsible and sustainable marine sourcing practices, and this remains important to Air China Cargo’s overall sustainable development goals”.
Airlines, shipping companies and hotel chains have come under mounting pressure to stop transporting or selling shark fin.
Air China’s followed the HK Express a Hong Kong airline who became pioneer carrier in banning shark fins from the global center for the shark fin trade. HK Express joined a coalition of 35 airlines, which include British Airways, American Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Emirates, to do the same.
Wildlife charity WildAid, whose activist Alex Hofford highly praised Air China’s movement, stated that “the airline has taken an “ethical stance” for shark population protection.
According to wildlife protection organization around 73 million sharks is been treated in last several years, first they remove their wings then throw them into alive condition, after few days they dies under water. Such practice to the sharks harshly creates anger in Chinese consumer’s community.
The NGO motivating airline community toward sharks preservation expressed their view that they aims to convince more of China’s airlines over their shark fin policy, including Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China, Hainan Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shandong Airlines and SF Airlines.