Shark Savers debuts anti-shark finning campaign in Hong Kong :: Wetpixel.com

Shark Savers debuts anti-shark finning campaign in Hong Kong

Shark Savers debuts the "Say 'No' to shark fin soup" Campaign in Hong Kong at the Diving and Resort Travel Expo

Hong Kong, July 16, 2010. Shark Savers launched the "Say 'no' to shark fin soup" campaign in Hong Kong at the Diving Resort & Travel Expo that opens today and extends through July 18, 2010. Shark Savers, a key participant in the Expo’s theme of marine conservation, will encourage people to stop eating shark fin soup as a means to protect sharks and improve ocean health.

According to Michael Skoletsky, Shark Savers' Executive Director, "Shark populations are being destroyed at a devastating pace throughout the world, primarily due to high consumption levels of shark fin soup. We are bringing the message of the protecting sharks by not eating the soup to Hong Kong, one of the epicenters for shark fin trade and consumption."

Sharks are the apex predators of the seas and have been shown to play an important role in maintaining the healthy balance of other species throughout the ocean food chain.

Hong Kong has long been the center of the shark fin trade. However, there has been a growing movement of people rejecting shark fin soup in this dynamic city. The Shark Savers campaign provides grassroots support to this emerging trend by empowering people to take a Pledge to not eat shark fin soup and to carry the message to their friends, family, local restaurants and businesses and their places of employment.

The “Say ‘no’ to shark fin soup” campaign is an extension of an effort pioneered by WildAid in China. Since 2009, Shark Savers has been partnering with WildAid in China and elsewhere, an effort that includes a powerful advertising message with spokesperson Yao Ming, urging people to stop eating shark fin soup. Yao Ming is Houston Rockets NBA Basketball star, owner of the Shanghai Sharks, and flag-bearer for China’s 2008 Olympic team.

The leader Shark Savers’ volunteers at the Expo, Jonn Lu, has set an ambitious goal -- to get 20,000 Expo visitors to Pledge not to eat or serve shark fin soup. "The Hong Kong Shark Savers team is excited to be part of this growing movement to take shark fin out of soup and keep sharks in the oceans where they can do so much good."

Shark Savers will be encouraging Expo visitors to sign the Pledge at a table at the Expo entrance, at Booth G52 and at its web site. More about shark fin soup, Shark Savers, and the pledge, may be found at http://www.sharksavers.org/sharkfinsoup

About Shark Savers:

Shark Savers is an international non-profit organization founded in 2007 dedicated to shark conservation. It focuses on reducing the consumption of shark fin soup, serving as the voice of sharks for the maligned species, and creating effective shark sanctuaries to protect sharks.

About The Hong Kong Diving, Resort & Travel Expo (the “DRT Show”):

The DRT Show runs from July 16-18, 2010 at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre. It is one of the largest and most sought after events focused on diving, resort and travel held in Asia, open to the trade and consumers. It is the only Dive Expo supported by Hong Kong Underwater Association (HKUA) and China Underwater Association (CUA). The Expo is expecting an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 visitors over 3 days.

Contacts:

Julie Andersen
julie.andersen@sharksavers.org
Ph:+1.917.546.6618

Mary O'Malley
mary.omalley@sharksavers.org
Ph: +1 305 632 3688

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