Last week we have covered a story about shark fins sold in Tesco Phuket. Sea Bees Diving, Mik and many of our Sea Bees Blog readers have contacted Tesco UK and demanded a response. Yesterday we have received an e-mail from the Customer Service Manager ‘Karen White’.

The unsatisfactory response from Tesco Customer Service Manager

Thereupon we did not hesitate to contact them again with the following e-mail to Mrs. White:

Dear Mrs. White,

Thank you very much for your friendly reply.

As a businessman, not a Green Peace activist or a vegetarian, I understand that Tesco, like any other retailer, has to optimise their range of products to meet customer needs.
But I do not understand why Tesco, as one of the world’s leading retailers, does not also acknowledge their responsibility to the environment from which shark fins are taken.
There is no ‘shark friendly’ way of obtaining shark fins without killing the whole shark. Also, because of retailers like Tesco, there are more than 100,000,000 (100 million) sharks caught annually worldwide, which has resulted in an almost 20% extermination of all shark species. And yes, we do need sharks in our marine environment as a vital part of the food chain!

The argument that Tesco has to respect different traditions is correct, but selling a niche product such as shark fins has nothing to do with respecting traditions, but only with increasing profits – or does Tesco also sells other banned items in Asia, such as tiger and rhino products or seal pup furs?

I don’t know if Tesco or you care, but here are some scientific facts about sharks:
- besides the shark’s fins, there is no demand whatsoever for any other shark meat, therefore the whole fish is wasted after the fin is removed.
- sharks mature slowly and reach breeding age in an average of 10 – 12 years which is very late compared to other fish.
- most sharks only bear between 1 to 3 young at the same time.
- most sharks don’t breed successfully in captivity.
- 20% of all shark species are already threatened with extinction.

I am lost for words as to why Tesco and their employees do not appear to understand the importance of protecting our natural resources. Does nobody have any children here? Is money and profit the only stimulation in your lives? Would you also sell polar bear ears, tiger furs or elephant ivory if this would be in line with traditions and expectations in some countries?

Karen, ask your own children or those in your neighbourhood what they think. Their understanding in this matter is very often much better than that of 60 year old business leaders. It is their future, not ours, that is being destroyed.

Thank you for (possible) understanding

Holger Schwab
Managing Director
Sea Bees Diving

Admin says: We are awaiting their response again, hopefully this time without lame excuses!