SDR: Shark Fin Soup on the Las Vegas Strip!

[bpzdiver]

Don't post here often and not sure if this is the right topic area, but it is an issue affecting anyone who appreciates the reef. I was recently in Las Vegas and had a chance to stay at the newly opened Palazzo Hotel. There is an Asian Restaurant on the casino floor called Jade, and we decided to try it out. I was shocked to see that they served Shark Fin Soup, given what we all know about the destruction of this creature. :angry: :angry: I spoke with the manager, told him how upsetting this would be to many people, and asked that he remove the item from the menu, but he said it was a corporate decision and that the restaurant is owned by Venetian/Palazzo. So I've sent emails to them but have heard nothing back, and now I'm publicizing this on scuba diving boards. Palazzo is a part of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. group of casinos and I'd bet they serve Shark FIn Soup in Macao and will in Singapore too. It's a public company (LVS) and maybe like Disney they'll respond to public pressure.

This has got to stop; it's bad enough it's an established part of some cultures but to bring it to the Strip gives it a novelty flair and it's just that many more thoughtless people who will cause that much more thoughtless killing. Here's the emails I could find, you might come up with additional contacts so post them here. And while I hope it's gone soon, DEMA is in Vegas this Fall. Maybe a little personal visit/publicity/picketing might be helpful?

foodandbeverage@palazzolasvegas.com

comments@palazzolasvegas.com

Corporate contact:

Contact Us - Information Request

 

[drbill]

Of course we all know that "anything goes" in Vegas, but this is worth a concerted effort to try to stop. I wonder how many Asian visitors go to Vegas these days?

 

[Garrobo]

What's the address and how much does it cost?

 

[Crab_bait]

When I was at The Winds Hotel, Las Vegas (next door to TheVenetian/Palazzo) back in September, they offered shark finn dumplings at The Buffet. I contacted an anti-shark finn group online that puts their effort towards pressuring restaurants into taking it off the menu. I hope it worked!

 

[Ice9]

Oh man.. That really p1sses me off! I've sent my emails off....

 

[paradicio]

This is sick... My emails have been sent.

I've also notified Pacific Whale Foundation (I know they're not Pacific Shark Foundation, but I thought they should know, they've written back very concerned), Heal the Bay, and Adoptashark.com.

 

[Lake Muroc Diver]

How absolutely ludicrous! They have my comments.
I dream of meeting a shark while diving. (Hopefully a well fed one). And here they go wasting one for the damn fins.
I am angry as hell and I'm not going to take it any more.
Which sea life protection organization has the most obnoxious ,picketing members? I may just join or make a contribution. I used to belong to Surfrider. They were good, but this place in Vegas needs a punch in their corporate nose.

 

[mandjrae]

I've sent my e-mails requesting they take this off the menu. Next, I think people should contact the parent company, Las Vegas Sands, directly with this request. I got on their website and the following link seems to be the best bet to communicate with them: Contact Us - Information Request If that goes nowhere, then perhaps letters to the board of directors should be the next step.

 

[rawls]

I though shark fin soup was illegal in the US??? Or is it just shark finning?

 

[driftwood]

We all agree that the basic practice of shark finning is barbaric and cruel in the first place. To me at least, what makes the practice truly evil is that the fin adds no taste to the soup, just texture. My personal preference is to avoid buying any seafood from a supermarket case that contains monkfish, sea bass, and shark. Needless to say, I will be emailing the hotel.