#Hashtag Hong Kong
Sharks. The very word can conjure images of fear thanks to Hollywood. But the reality is, these creatures are often greatly misunderstood, and they are undeniably vital to the sustainable health of our marine ecosystems. Here in Hong Kong, we have a unique opportunity to impact shark conservation on a global scale and Hong Kong Shark Foundation is leading the charge.
Hong Kong Shark Foundation is a Hong Kong registered NGO dedicated exclusively to shark conservation. Our mission is simple, yet powerful: to raise awareness about shark conservation and educate people to stop the unsustainable consumption of ALL shark products, particularly shark fins.
Now, you might be asking, why sharks? Why should we care about saving sharks? Well, sharks are apex predators. That means they sit right at the top of the marine food chain. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and overall health of our ocean. When shark populations decline, it has a cascading effect throughout the entire marine ecosystem. Think of it like a giant jenga game - removing too many of the wrong blocks and the whole structure becomes unstable. Also, removing top predators such as sharks affects the ocean's ability to capture carbon and regulate our climate.
The demand for shark products, especially for shark fin soup, has led to a drastic global decline in shark populations. It's a truly shocking situation. Over 100 million sharks are harvested each year just for their fins, and incredibly, more than half of these fins are traded in, or through Hong Kong.
It’s estimated that we have lost 70% of the shark population in just the last 50 years. And now, one-third of sharks are nearing extinction. These numbers are unsustainable and should be a wake-up call for all of us.
So, what is HK Shark Foundation doing to address this critical issue? We focus on several areas.
Education is a huge part of our work. We engage with youth, individuals, and companies, providing meaningful ways to get involved in saving sharks. We conduct school talks, reaching over 10,000 students a year, teaching them about shark and ocean conservation.
HK Shark Foundation also runs an educational “Shark Ambassador” program to raise awareness about shark conservation, teaching students to look at the negative impact of shark finning, and focuses on SDG #14LifeBelowWater. Our Shark Ambassador program teaches students to become stewards and advocates for sharks and the ocean.
What about businesses? How can they get involved? Hong Kong Shark Foundation has a "Shark-Free Company" CSR/ESG initiative where we encourage businesses to pledge not to serve or consume shark fin
products at corporate banquets and events. It’s a powerful way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. And I’m thrilled to say that HK Shark Foundation has also been recognized and officially listed on the Hong Kong Government's Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Education Bureau (EDB)’s websites to further these initiatives in our community.
And for couples planning their big wedding day, we also offer a "Shark-Free Wedding" campaign which encourages couples to celebrate their wedding sustainably - without shark fin soup on the menu.
So, what can you do, right now, to help? There are many ways to get involved….
First, educate yourself and others about the importance of sharks and the threats they face. Spread the word in your community. Say NO to shark fin soup!
Second, make conscious choices about the food you consume – avoid shark fin soup and other shark products.
Third, support restaurants and businesses that have pledged to be shark-free.
You can also invite Hong Kong Shark Foundation to speak at your school or even at your workplace as a “Lunch n Learn” talk which are very popular CSR/ESG community engagement activities.
Finally, you can donate to HKSF or volunteer your time. Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference.
We are 100% funded by kind, compassionate individuals like YOU in HK and are not government funded.
If you want to find out more, please visit our website at hksharkfoundation.org or check out our social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Weibo.
Hong Kong Shark Foundation is a truly inspiring organization and I encourage you to support our work in any way you can.
Together, we CAN plant the seeds of change through education and make a difference for our sharks, our ocean and our planet.
