Shark fins, the scourge of ecologists and beloved by some traditional Chinese diners, are illegal in California as of Monday.
In adopting the ban, California joins six other states in attempting to preserve shark populations that have been seriously reduced by the appetite of China’s growing middle class, who value the fins' culinary presence in ceremonies and celebrations, and are able to afford the expensive delicacy for the first time.
California grocers who sold the dried fins and restaurants that had the prized shark fin soup on menus had 18 months to move their supply. In that time, one restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley that specialized in the delicacy closed down. As of Saturday, retailers in Chinatown were bemoaning the abundance of stock still on hand.
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