Underwatertimes.com News Service - September 14, 2007 15:52 EST

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and its agencies will no longer serve shark fin's soup at their functions.

Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said this was the ministry's commitment to the Malaysian Nature Society's Selangor branch marine group's effort to encourage individuals and organisations not to serve shark's fin soup at corporate functions and events.

"By refraining from the consumption of shark's fin soup, it is hoped that the ministry would contribute in one way or another towards the current conservation efforts for sharks species," he said in a statement.

The marine group has embarked on a series of activities and programmes to promote awareness about the plight of the shark, its importance as a key component of the marine ecosystem, and to correct popular misconceptions about shark's fin soup.

According to Azmi, sharks were apex predators and cornerstone species in the marine ecosystem.

"Their demise would start off a domino effect, which at each stage could result in the depletion or overpopulation of other fish and marine species leading to an imbalance in the marine ecosystem," he said.