Langley City is being asked to join a growing number of municipalities banning shark fins.

The ban would include sales and possession of shark fin soup and fin products, except for educational or research purposes.

Councillor Rosemary Wallace took it to council, concerned about waste, cruelty, and the impact on shark populations. The fin is about 23 times more profitable than shark meat, so millions of sharks are caught, have their fins cut off, and are thrown back into the ocean where they bleed to death.

Wallace said up to 73 million sharks are killed annually.

It's not a common dish in Langley. Wallace said she's heard one restaurant may serve it in the Langleys.

The soup was once eaten only by emperors, and had a cachet of wealth and power, according to information provided to council by the Human Society International.

Coun. Gayle Martin said she wanted more information about the regional situation before deciding anything. Staff will be bringing a report to council.

There are bans in Port Moody, Calgary, Toronto, and Mississauga, as well as abroad in Hawaii and California.

Two Vancouver City councillors are asking for Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby to bring in bans since those communities are home to most of the establishments that serve shark fin soup.

hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com