Ethical traveller: Should I eat that?

Sampling the local cuisine is a big part of travelling -- especially when it’s a little out of the ordinary.

But in some destinations, it may not be the taste or texture that travellers have a hard time stomaching. Because of the manner in which an animal became dinner, ordering up a delicacy can often put an ethical dilemma on your plate.

Here is a look at the top should-I-eat-it conundrums.

Shark fin soup

On 1 January, this special-occasion, luxury delicacy was nixed from menus at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels group (which includes the Peninsula) because of its effect on dwindling shark populations. The fins are cut from sharks who are then tossed back in the ocean, where they are unable to swim, and thus slowly die. California also passed a law last year that bans the possession, sale or distribution of imported shark fins.

Turtle eggs

While turtle eggs may not sound appetizing the world over, they are eaten in several Central American countries, particularly Nicaragua and Guatemala. Some even think they are an aphrodisiac. But the practicehas pitted researchers working to save endangered and vulnerable turtle species, like the olive ridley, against poachers who snatch the eggs from nests.

Whale meat

Whale is eaten in Japan, Iceland and Norway, despite a decades-old worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling. (Catching whales for scientific research is still allowed, but not all countries abide by the international rules.) Many species of whale are endangered, thus the practice of eating whale meat is contentious, even in countries like Japan, where the food is a cultural tradition. In the US, meanwhile, sale of the meat is illegal -- a California sushi restaurant faced federal charges in 2010 for serving whale meat to customers.

BBC NEWS