Chinese restaurants in Hawaii are adjusting to the nation’s first total ban on shark fins — a pricey Chinese delicacy that activists are trying to eliminate from people’s diets to save the world’s sharks.
Thursday was the last day the restaurants could legally serve shark fin under a state law enacted last year prohibiting the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins.
The law took effect last July 1, but gave restaurants a year to use up any remaining inventory. Now, restaurants serving fin will be fined $5,000-to-$15,000 the first time they are caught. A third offense would result in up to a year in prison and a fine of $35,000-to-$50,000.
Royal Garden, a Honolulu restaurant whose entrance featured giant shark fins in a large glass display case until last year, served the last of its shark fin a week ago, except for a few bits a handful of customers reserved to savor on Thursday. Going forward, the restaurant plans to offer a vegetarian or imitation version of the dish by substituting gelatin for real shark fin.
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