A ruling that has struck down Toronto’s ban on shark fins could affect what happens with the issue in Calgary.

An Ontario judge said a bylaw banning shark fins and foods like the Chinese dish shark fin soup fell beyond the city’s jurisdiction.

The use of shark fins has become highly controversial because of the inhumane way they are harvested; with advocates warning that over-fishing is putting shark species at risk of extinction.

Calgary Alderman Druh Farrell tells the Calgary Sun the ruling out east may harpoon Calgary’s bid to pass a similar bylaw next month.

Opponents say if the city goes ahead with it and ignores what happened in Toronto they will launch legal action to stop it.

A member of the Calgary Chinese Merchant Association says he hopes Calgary drops the pursuit of its own ban on the Asian delicacy.

Ken Lee would like Calgary city council to continue allowing restaurants to sell foods prepared with shark fin, despite concerns about the fins coming from poachers who throw the sharks back in the ocean after cutting the fins.

Lee says federal legislation already makes any poached products illegal in Canada, and that’s how city council can ensure it’s not a problem locally.