Rob Stewart’s family speaks in support of Shark Fin Ban in Canada
By Alexandra Heilbron on April 27, 2017 | 4 Comments
Rob Stewart‘s family was present at a press conference today at Toronto City Hall to speak about a federal ban on shark finning — including his parents Brian and Sandy Stewart, his sister Alexandra Stewart and his uncle and aunt, Randy and Gail Stewart. Brian Stewart spoke to the crowd about the important work their son did to preserve endangered sharks. Today’s press conference was the Stewart family’s first joint public appearance to discuss Rob Stewart‘s conservation work.
Although a bill was passed to ban the sale and consumption of shark fins in Toronto in September 2011, the ban was overturned in 2012.
Toronto Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who originally championed the ban in 2011 with Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, brought the motion in front of Toronto Council yesterday and both spoke at today’s press conference, along with MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, all of whom are passionate about saving these endangered animals.
We also spoke to Kaley Fitzsimmon, who launched a petition to support the bill to ban the importation of shark fins. She told us she was moved by Rob’s efforts to save sharks after watching Sharkwater and just days after she heard about Rob’s tragic accident in Florida, she decided to launch the petition to honor his memory on change.org. Her original petition to Mayor John Tory has over 10,000 supporters. She has since launched another petition, this one directed towards the Canadian federal government. Click here to sign the petition to help save sharks.
You can find the petition along with more information about Rob Stewart’s Sharkwater sequel and his conservation efforts at his Sharkwater website.
This afternoon, Toronto City Council will vote on a motion that calls on the City to support Bill S-238, “The Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act.” We will post the results of the vote here. ~Alexandra Heilbron
Update: Councillors voted 38-4 for the motion by Kristyn Wong-Tam to support federal Bill S-238. Cheers rang out from the gallery where the Stewart family was seated. “We’re thrilled, and we know Rob would’ve been thrilled as well,” Sandy Stewart told The Toronto Star.
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Really happy the bill passed in Toronto. I hope the federal government passes this, it’s really important for Canada to get on board with this long overdue legislation.
Ban this now
Insane – who in their right mind would support the agonizing deaths of these amazing creatures for food?? These creatures have been around for millennia and we as greedy little humans have exploited them and many others for food. The way the sharks are caught, tortured and thrown back to die slow agonizing deaths for our food enjoyment is disgusting and should never have begun let alone have to be banned. Rob’s death was tragic and probably preventable but we need to continue with his work as his legacy to this planet
How do you hold the Chinese accountable? They never stopped when it came to tigers, rhinoceros, elephants… and they are leaders in buying fur from horrible snares and traps or electrified anally??? Living in wretched conditions. How will you get them to stop when they couldn’t care less and they are the buyers??