Ingrid Whitcher

Shark Finning is a barbaric practice. It encourages the senseless slaughter of sharks which are already under the threat of precipitous population declines and many fishery scientists believe some species are bordering on extinction. I am shocked that a restaurant would open using the name of that barbaric practice which has been banned in US waters. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/5684/title/FoodforThought_SharkFinningFacesBroader_Sanctions

The restaurant is a great addition to the Pensacola area. The food, service, and atmosphere are great. We go almost weekly now. I don't care what the name is because it is a great restaurant.

Wow, that says quite a bit about moral levels in Pensacola. "Doesn't matter what the name is as long as my comfort is placed first."

Loved the resturant!!! Went with a few co-workers for the first time....the service and the food was great!! I'll be going again and taking friends with me!

Molly- shark fin is a very traditional dish in China and is simply a huge part of the culture. To name a restaurant shark fin is not supporting or denoting the the actual practice of de-finning sharks and killing them. The name simply purports to give the restaurant a flair, an edge, yet also pointing to something still traditionally Chinese. I think that if you want to take an activist stance against the de-finning of sharks then you should join a campaign and not uselessly rant about a restaurant that doesn't even serve shark fins. It's just a name. The people who own it are simply trying to make a living and I bet anything that they know a whole lot more about inequality, Third World dependency, and other structural/political issues that you do firsthand. So, please, comment only when it is appropriate. Besides, the owners are more than likely Asian and trying to make it with the 'American dream." They aren't and don't pretend to be pseudo-intellectuals or activist. They are trying to make a living, probably planning to put their kids in college. You should also take into account cultural difference and cultural relativity. These aren't people who are fishing and killing sharks. They opened a restaurant for pete's sake.

That said- the food I had their was wonderful and much much better than other Asian restaurants in Pensacola with politically correct names. I recommend people who enjoy asian food but can't stand the cold, disgusting buffets that are so prevalent to the area to try this new place out!

Molly, shut up.

@Molly - don't shut up. You are right to be outraged at a barbaric practice, though I agree with Aimy that the name doesn't endorse the practice. Your message probably would be received better by all if you use the occasion of the restaurant's name to bring awareness to the problem, rather than attacking the "moral levels in Pensacola".

Mark, its hard not to comment on the moral levels when people say they really don't care what sort of activity is implicitly being condoned.

Shark Fin soup may be a part of the Asian culture, but it isn't a very ethical one. That's sort of like saying that fox penning is a part of the Southern culture and we should therefore turn a blind eye to it. Of all the positive names these owners could have selected for their restaurant, they had to pick one which exemplified the worst aspects of their culture. And I am involved in trying to eliminate the practice of shark finning not only in US coastal waters but also supporting a treaty banning the practice world-wide. It is a disgrace. Any soup which has shark fin cartilage as its based is likely to have a connection to the practice of shark finning. Not even considering that the name offends many implies that they are condoning the practice. If you want to know a little more about this practice, including why many people of conscience boycott restaurants with shark fin soup, here's a link.

http://www.sharksavers.org/en/blogs/utila-whale-shark-blog/621.html?task=view

@molly — at issue is whether naming a restaurant "shark fin" condones the unethical practice of "shark finning". There is nothing inherently wrong with shark fin soup. The problem is that in China the demand is greater than what can be supplied by ethical means. By attacking the "morals of pensacola" you have turned the attention away from the real problem, and turned it toward a restaurant the doesn't serve shark fin soup and doesn't condone the practice.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I had no idea when I wrote this post that a "quilters" blog would be a source of such debate.

Mark, The name "Shark Fin" brings the dish Shark Fin soup immediately to mind. Shark Fin soup, anywhere it is served worldwide, can be tied to the illicit trade in Shark Fins via the practice of Shark Finning. The name itself condones the practice of Shark Finning. The naming of this restaurant shows implicit disregard for the offensive nature of this name and harvest technique.

I pointed out the connection between this name and how dismayed I was that a restaurant would use this offensive name. The response of individuals was that they did not care what the name was. Would we care if a restaurant specializing in soul food called themselves by a racist term? Yes, obviously. Yet, the response here has been: "I don't care what the name is as long as they have good food and service". My response is even more dismay over the apathy of our citizens.

Think about it people, this restaurant is named after a dish which is difficult to obtain in the USA. The reason is that the primary harvest method for the main ingredient is illegal in most US coastal waters. It is illegal because the harvest method is believed inhumane. Yet these restaurant owners thought it was a perfectly acceptable name? Really? The name does indeed endorse the practice.

All I am asking is that you think about what you support. If you actually look up information regarding the practice of shark finning and still feel as though you can endorse a restaurant that would advocate even using that name - go ahead. I've done all I can do. Hopefully a few of the readers here have at least explored the practice of shark finning and discovered why many consider it morally reprehensible. That's all folks!

Ingrid, Thanks for allowing this discussion. I hope that a few people have taken the time to learn a little about the practice of shark finning and why it is disturbing and why it is especially problematic in the face of plummeting shark populations worldwide. Again, thanks for allowing the discussion. You could have blocked it at any time.

molly is a moron.its not called "eat shark fin soup or die". the restaurant is simply called shark fin.i dont see how that in any way condones the senseless slaughter of sharks. the name might remind you of shark fin soup but its just a word and not a promotion of ANY action.i do know lin the owner personally and he is the sweetest guy around, from china and very hard working and i think that you totally over reacted.go take your medicines and have a nap.thanks

I know this is a "heated" debate, but please no name calling. I would like to not block any comments - but I will if needed.

Hello! I am highly interested in trying out this new restaurant ,but what is the typical price range for lunch? Thanks.

Molly nobody is going to care about your cause if you directly insult them and their morality when they are simply taking the time to support a local restaurant. Get over yourself.

Molly, thanks for being so active on this blog and for bringing this tasty sounding delicacy to my attention. I will definitely try eating shark fin now. It must be good or the thought police would not be trying to stamp it out. Please post again with more great suggestions. Are there any particular recipes for shark fin that you don't want me to try? Also, are there any other tasty critters that you want everyone to avoid eating? I admire you for your wealth of information.

Oh and by the way, did it ever occur to you that rather than condoning shark finning, perhaps the restaurant owners were honoring the majesty of the great beast as it cuts through the coastal waters here in Pensacola? You really are assuming the worst, aren't you? Get off your high horse.

Is this restaraunt expensive? What is the price range?

Names and words matter in this world. Consequently, the name of this restuarant absolutely condones the production and consumption of Shark Fin Soup. Sharks are vulnerable to commericial expoitation because they reach sexual maturity slowly, and produce few young with each birthing event. CITES (an international fisheries organization)reports that 8 species of sharks are now threatened with Extiction due to this practice. 73 Million Sharks killed each year, resulting in a estimated 83% drop for some species. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2010/03/16/

Keep up the Good Fight Molly!

I had a friend who died from being attacked by a shark.

It is not a moral issue when we talk about the definning of sharks. It is a conservation issue. I don't understand why people get fired up about it as if they are talking about a genocide. I think that when we address pertinent issues of environment and conservation that we should not attack people or restaurants (it's silly) that have no direct link to the illegal, aformentioned practice. But we should try to spread the info about the issue in a manner in which people will listen and consider the gravity of the situation instead of in a manner that makes them angry after you attacked (Molly) groups that do not aid in the illegal practice.

Molly, you may argue that the Shark Fin restaurant is aiding in the illegal practice simply by being named "shark fin." But I would disagree. Find me people who are going to go and eat shark fin soup and go shark hunting because of the name of this restaurant. I doubt you will find any who will seriously do it. They may just say they're going to eat it to humour you. but they won't actually go and depopulate the oceans of sharks.

I would also contend that naming the restaurant shark fin is neither "inhumane" nor "offensive." Again this is a conservation issue bc the species is being depleted more rapidly than it is reproducing. If there were an abundance of sharks in this world, then shark fins wouldn't be an issue at all. From you perspective, one could say that beef eating is an inhumane and offensive practiece (see slaughterhouses), but it isn't bc there is an abundance of beef. Then, if you are going to argue that you are vegetarian and all animal-killing practices are offensive, well, that has no place on this thread either.

An appropriate response from you, molly, would have been to say smthg about the restaurant itself, then add maybe a line about how you don't like the name.. However, the way in which you presented your argument was inappropriate, and I believe that you rubbed people the wrong. It's a shame bc you seem passionate about this cause, but you are not doing much in campaigning for it.

I hope this helps people to realize that unnecessary, angry comments don't help a cause when you want to spread info about an issue and help people to realize its pertinence in society.

The term I used "genocide" was referring to events such as Rwanda, the Congo, the Khmer Rouge, the Holocaust, etc. Someone is going to be smart and say tht it's a genocide of the sharks! But that is not the context that I am using the word.

My preemptive response to the 'it's a genocide of the sharks' objection is already found in the original post: it's a conservation issue; if beef were rare, we would look at cows the same way...

I came on here looking for a restaurant review, not a political debate about sharks! People on here asking questions about prices and never answered. Pathetic!

Perhaps Shark Fin comes from the actual part of the shark called the fin, and not the soup? The name sounds edgy and modern, while still keeping a sense of chinese tradition..so you know what kind of restaurant it is from the get go. Shark Tooth just doesnt have the same ring to it...

I didnt see any Shark Fin soup on the menu, just lots of other delicious things! The owners of this restaurant obviously love sharks because they do not serve it. Chicken on the other hand.…:)

Hello. My name is Jean. My husband and I own the restaurant and very sorry that we are causing such a disturbance. I was hoping the debate will eventually quiet down; but, I see not any time soon. I'm very sorry that our restaurant name bring a such commotion. We do not want anybody to get upset nor angry. However, I'm writing this today hope it will help. We are not promoting definning the shark or anyway relate to. We are just trying to make an earnest living by bring exquisite dining experience. Sorry again of short senses to name that remind such sensitive issue. Some people were asking our prices? They are ranged around $10 to $20. We are trying to make most quality of food with top service at middle price. I hope this will help people to calm down. We believe in saving and loving animals too. We don't participate any animal cruelty. Thank you for your concern!

Jean - Our family loves the restaurant and have been several times. We love the atmosphere and the wonderful food. Thank you for taking the time to answer some of the questions about the restaurant.