Despite popular media portrayals of sharks, the truth is, more people die from bees or lightning than sharks every year. In fact, it's the sharks that should be fearing us—for every person killed by sharks, an estimated 10 million sharks have been killed by people. Every year, at least 38 million sharks are killed for their fins, a practice that is not only cruel but wasteful: fins are removed from the shark while its still alive and the body is dumped overboard—unable to swim, it sinks to the bottom to drown, bleed to death, or be eaten alive by other fish. 

Founded in June 2009, Shark Truth is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to promoting awareness, education and action around shark fin soup in Chinese communities. Our long-term goal is to stop the consumption of shark fin in Canada in five to ten years.  Today, you can help make a difference by supporting legislation to ban the possession, sale and consumption of shark fins in Toronto.

The consumption of shark fin soup is driven primarily by the Chinese community for dinner banquets like weddings.  The soup is known as a symbol of status and wealth. At Shark Truth, our strategy is to empower consumers to take action through contests and storytelling, helping to create a more sustainable future for sharks.

Today, you can all lend a hand in helping Harry and his fellow shark family. Sign this petition and help us keep sharks in the seas and out of our bowls. Toronto city council will vote this fall and are looking for 10,000 signatures, especially from local Toronto city dwellers before then. Please sign and spread the word!

Photo credit: Angela Cockayne