Is it a sin to eat shark fin? The question has become an improbable issue after China's top political advisory body opened its annual session on Saturday.

Before the session, Yu Minhong, a national political advisor and chairman of private education firm New Oriental, endorsed a proposal by his fellow political advisor and entrepreneur Wan Jie to ban shark fin in government banquets.

Yet his endorsement was not well-received on the Internet. He told Xinhua, "Criticism on the Web nearly killed me. People are saying political advisors are ignoring the life and death of the people, while concerning themselves with that of sharks.

"But I don't see a problem here. Besides caring about people's livelihoods, we should also pay attention to the issues of environmental protection, the world and climate," he said.

Joining Yu's ranks is another political advisor, Han Meilin, the celebrated artist who acted as chief designer of the Beijing Olympics mascots.

"Just like eating bear bile powder, eating shark fin is no good for the body. Besides, the act itself disrupts the balance of nature," he said.

Shark fin soup, considered a delicacy and a symbol of social status, is served at mostly exclusive restaurants throughout China. Moveover, a widespread belief that shark fin is of great nutritional value has only helped with its fame.

Yu said he has not eaten shark fin for years and, contrary to popular belief, the substance is low in nutrition.

According to WildAid, a wild animal conservation organization, up to 70 million sharks are slain annually for their fins, which has put at least 17 percent of known species of shark and manta on the verge of extinction.

It said the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have been among the biggest importers of shark fin for years. So far, no legislation has been introduced in China to ban the practice.

Some think legislation should start with banning the product's use in government banquets. Wan Jie and Ding Liguo, a national legislator, are proposing such a ban this year.

It is thought that the government's prohibiting the consumption of shark fin would promote an environmentally friendly lifestyle and encourage businesses to follow similar lines.

National political advisors and legislators are in Beijing to attend the annual full sessions of the country's political advisory and legislative bodies.

During last year's sessions, Wan Jie submitted a proposal that the trade in shark fin be banned. He said his new proposal is more specific, pinpointing a ban on shark fin in government banquets at a time when the government is working to trim its expenses on government receptions, official vehicles and travels abroad.

Some hotels and restaurants in China have already stopped serving shark-fin soups, one of the latest being the Jinling Hotel in Nanjing, which announced the move on its official microblog.