OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES -- A thief broke into a storage room at a local restaurant and took roughly $20,000 in dried sharks' fins -- a delicacy used in Chinese cuisine that is usually served during special occasions such as banquets and weddings.
The theft at (formerly known as Prince Seafood Restaurant), located at 11828 South St. in Cerritos, is believed to have occurred sometime during the period of Aug. 16 and Aug. 18, said Sgt. Keith Kanouse.
According to the initial burglary report, roughly $500 in computer parts were stolen during the break-in. A few days later -- most likely after inventory was taken -- the restaurant reported that two boxes full of dried sharks' fins were also missing, according to the sergeant.
"From what I understand each box of sharks' fins is worth about $10,000," said Kanouse.
Anyone with information on this burglary should call the Cerritos Sheriff's Station at (562) 860-0044.
Shark fins, which are often sold dried, cooked, or frozen, are used in Chinese cuisine -- most commonly in shark fin soup. Royal Garden Restaurant, a 12,000 sq. ft. two-story business, currently offers "braised shark fin soup" at $39.95 for a four-person serving.
2012 California Law Bans Sale/Possession of Shark Fin
Under state legislation signed into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown last October, effective at the start of 2012, restaurants are allowed to use their current supply/stock of shark fins if purchased before Jan. 1 -- after that, the possession and sale of shark fins will be illegal. Therefore, California restaurants can only continue to serve their existing stock of shark fin until July 1, 2013.
Upon approving the bill -- AB376 authored by Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale -- the governor said that research shows that some shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent, posing a threat to the balance of the marine ecosystem as well as the state of commercial fishing.
"The practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping (the carcass) back in the ocean is not only cruel, but it harms the health of our oceans," Brown said.
California joins Hawaii, Washington and Oregon in banning shark fin sales.
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I hope the thieves destroy them!
we need to stop thinking that earth and the things in it are here for us instead of the other way around.
To pull the shark from the waters, alive, cut off it's fins, then dump it to die, unable to swim, back in the ocean is cruel ! As I said, I was almost positive Obama banned Shark Finning, in America !
Why anyone would want to dump hundreds of pounds of delicious shark filet and instead take the fins is a mystery to me. Admittedly, I am not a part of the culture that values it. That said, what are the fishermen who legally take sharks supposed to do with the fins? I suspect that our government has come up with some convoluted new rule to work with this. It ought to be interesting to see how the new law is skirted.
There are always rotten apples in any industry and those are the stories and video that generally gets used by groups with agenda. Because they are graphic and sensational, as what news reporting is becoming. Are there heartless fishermen who cuts off the fins and dump the rest of the fish back to the ocean, YES. Do they represent the entire fishery/fishermen? NO! Why isn't Sport Hunting and Sport Fishing banded or outlawed? Killing animal for the purpose of entertainment, now that's cruel and being a SAVAGE. If Gov. Brown is so concerned about over fishing of sharks, why does AB376 band shark fishing, period?! AB376 introduces Section 2021 into Fish and Game Code Section 2021 (c) This section does not apply to any person who holds a license or permit pursuant to Section 1002 and who possesses a shark fin or fins consistent with that license or permit Section 2021 (d) This section does not apply to any person who holds a license or permit issued by the department to take or land sharks for RECREATIONAL or commercial purposes and who possesses a shark fin or fins consistent with that license or permit. Here is a video of the other side of the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0utERfFeHQ