Imitation shark's fin, made of gela

Imitation shark's fin, made of gelatin, has become an increasingly popular alternative and is far cheaper than the real thing, selling for as little as $3 for a bowl at Chinese restaurants in the U.S.

Many young diners are keen to skip shark fin soup at wedding banquets, a popular occasion for the dish, but feel obliged to include it because of their status-conscious parents and grandparents who see the delicacy as a must-have at such occasions.

"Definitely, we feel the pressure," said Stephen Yiu, a 29-year-old banker in Hong Kong who is planning a wedding in September at the Four Seasons Hotel and would prefer not to have shark fin at the banquet. "It's a Chinese tradition to have shark's fin at a happy occasion. I'll have to persuade my parents and grandparents that I want an alternative."

Not all Chinese diners are keen on banning the dish, and the controversy can be a culturally sensitive issue.

"I think Westerners like to blame Asian countries for eating exotic things, but why is shark fin always the target? What about foie gras or other things like that? There is a double standard," said Chew Lai Tong, a 46-year-old taxi driver in Singapore.