Disney yesterday came under renewed attack for planning to serve shark's fin soup at its Hong Kong theme park, as more green groups condemned the decision as unacceptable.
Pressure group EarthCare has written to Disney chief executive Michael Eisner calling for the dish to be taken off menus at the Disneyland Hotel when it opens in September.
However, Disney insisted it would not reverse the decision as the dish was being served out of sensitivity to local cultures.
In her letter to Mr Eisner, EarthCare director Andrea Ng Wai-yee said it was socially irresponsible for Disney to serve shark's fin when the dish is blamed for putting a number of shark species in jeopardy, nor was 'finning', in which fishermen slice off valuable fins and leave the shark to die.
Ms Ng described the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland as the best opportunity for Disney to establish its environmental credentials.
Marine expert Charlie Frew, who runs a Hong Kong diving company and has filmed sharks being finned, said yesterday: 'This issue deserves nothing less than a complete boycott of all things Disney.'