Brunie's Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) is currently working on an " appropriate legal framework" in order to put into effect the shark 's fin ban in the country, the MIPR said Wednesday.

According to MIPR Minister Pehin Dato Hj Yahya, the ministry is also setting up measures related to education and awareness and public engagement efforts regarding the ban.

Several restaurants in the country are no longer serving shark' s fin to their customers. Some said that they had stopped serving the banned food item since last year when the announcement was made.

"Many countries have put in place restrictions on sale and catch of sharks, which we hope will help us to win the public opinion," Yahya was quoted by The Brunei Times as saying.

The media can also help by publishing articles on the effects of shark killing and taking their fins off, the minister added.

In June 2013, the government was giving food establishments a grace period of six months to clear their stock of shark's fin and shark cartilage products before the ban goes into effect.

The ban was announced during the launch of "Celebrate the Sea Festival 2013" to mark World Oceans Day, which made Brunei the first country in Asia to ban the product, according to non- governmental organization WildAid.

From January 2014, the ban will be legislated into Brunei's law and routine checks on establishments will be conducted to ensure the ban is effectively enforced. Endi

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