1220 Howard Street in San Francisco, the location of Kwong’s Kwong Yip, Inc. company
Before California’s ban on shark fins became law one year ago, 42-year old Michael Kwong was one of the area’s most vocal opponents. This week, he became the first major player to be prosecuted under the new law.
In January, six months after the ban took effect, state officials raided Kwong’s San Francisco warehouse and found 2,138 pounds of shark fins. He was ultimately charged with misdemeanor crimes for being in possession or selling frozen and processed shark fins, raw shark tails, and dried shark fins. He was also charged with possessing dried shark fins for display purposes and his supply of shark fins were also seized – a supply that could have sold for $1,000,000 or more on the black market.
The maximum penalty for each count is a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, and that doesn’t sit well with some. One of those who disagree with the light sentence is Lincoln Shaw, the Northern California Sea Shepherd coordinator.
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“We believe that perhaps one animal, one charge per animal, would be a more equitable situation. We’re talking about thousands of animals and here’s a guy who’s getting a slap on the wrist for having something that’s illegal.”
Shark fins and animal intestines on store shelves in China
Kwong’s family has been in the business since 1906, selling shark fins to restaurants for shark fin soup. While leaving the court on Monday, he didn’t have any comment or want to discuss the case against him. He has pleded not guilty and his lawyers say they’ll challenge the constitutionality of the shark fin ban currently in place.
According to the journal “Marine Policy”, 100 million sharks die each year – for making shark fin soup alone. Often, fishermen cut off the fins and dump the shark back into the ocean to bleed to death or drown. As a result, several species of shark are on the verge of extinction, and many others are rapidly becoming endangered.
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