Delta council agreed to reiterate its 2013 position with senior government, but stopped short of prohibiting the sale and trade of shark fins in Delta.
At Monday’s meeting, civic politicians reviewed correspondence from Boundary Bay resident Kendra Luckow who started a petition two months ago to lobby Delta to implement a bylaw.
Council members said they don’t have jurisdiction in the matter and voted to stick with recommendations adopted five years ago, including requesting senior levels of government take steps to prohibit the import, possession, sale and distribution of shark fins.
At last check, there were no restaurants in Delta serving shark fins.
During the discussion Monday, acting CAO Steven Lan said it was a national and international issue.
Lan said council could amend its business licence bylaw to try to prohibit it, but he added that in the 2013 report to council it noted the potential of the bylaw being challenged.
Lukow said she was not disappointed with council’s decision, but admitted it could have gone better.
“I was glad that it was addressed because there were 20-plus items under general correspondence and mine was the only one talked about, so that was good,” she said. “The fact that they reverted back to their 2013 decision, I’m not pleased. They did mention that they would go back and review my proposal, so I’m hoping if they go back and review it would help. If Delta was to lobby the provincial and federal government that would be fantastic, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Luckow is a registered veterinary technologist and a strong supporter of marine conservation, specifically shark conservation.
When she started her petition she was hoping to get 1,000 signatures. At last check it has more than 50,000 signatures.
“I’m just blown away by all the support,” she said. “I’m going to stand by the fact that they [Delta] will review my proposal and hope that leads to something. I don’t want to let this go. I don’t want to see the same answer as in 2013 otherwise I would have never started this.”
Her next plan of action is to lobby the provincial government.
“Obviously I would love to have Delta backing me on this, but if that doesn’t happen it won’t stop me from moving forward,” she said.
Shark finning is the removal of fins once the shark has been fished from the ocean. Once the fins have been sliced from the body, the carcass is discarded back into the water, often while the shark is still alive.
According to Luckow, bylaws are in place to prohibit the sale and trade of shark fins in Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Abbotsford and Port Moody.
