Singapore - Shark's fin will not be served in the restaurants of a massive casino resort being built on Singapore's Sentosa island, but the controversial delicacy will be available to high rollers.

The decision by Resorts World at Sentosa is meant to highlight the resort's commitment to the environment, spokesman Krist Boo said Thursday.

Resorts World is the second major retreat in the region to reject the controversial dish, after Hong Kong Disneyland.

Environmental groups have intensified protests targeting restaurants and resorts that offer the soup, maintaining that one third of shark species in the world are critically endangered.

"We did our sums, and we cannot say no to the high rollers," Boo said, referring to the wealthy guests who gamble heavily.

The decision was praised by Peter Knights, executive director of US-based WildAid, who said the decision "was completely their call."

It is estimated that tens of millions of sharks have their fins cut off annually before they are thrown back into the sea to die. (dpa)