Environmental Petition

Tao Heung Group Stop Selling Shark Fin Soup

1496 Signatures obtained, Need To Reach 2000 by December 31, 2023
504
Signatures
needed!
504

Target: 2000

Sign Now

Description

Hong Kong is the world’s largest center for the trade of shark fins, handling about 50 percent of the global trade.

One of the main reasons why the global shark fishery continues is the huge market for shark fins served at Chinese banquets. Therefore, the most effective and direct way to save sharks is to stop eating shark fin and refuse to buy any shark products. Every decision matters.  As we say…When the buying stops, the killing stops too!

This petition calls on the Tao Heung Group, one of the largest catering groups both in Hong Kong and mainland China, to stop selling shark fin soup.

You may also express your opinion via email enquiry@taoheung.com.hk.

Additional information:

Joyous One – 2020-2021 Wedding Menu https://bit.ly/3iV4qpU

Chao Inn – 2020-2021 Chinese Banquet Menu https://bit.ly/3iXjHGM 

Cheers Restaurant & Pier 88 – 2020-2021 Wedding Menu https://bit.ly/2MxmWZp

Shea, K. H., & To, A. W. L. (2017). From boat to bowl: Patterns and dynamics of shark fin trade in Hong Kong – implications for monitoring and management. Marine Policy 81, pp. 330-339. https://bit.ly/3qTwXPA

Updates

The petition is extended to 31st Dec, 2023

HKSharkFoundation

The petition is extended to 31st Dec, 2022

HKSharkFoundation

The petition is extended to 30th Jun, 2022

HKSharkFoundation

The petition end date is extended to 31st Dec, 2021

HKSharkFoundation

The petition end date is extended to 31st Oct

HKSharkFoundation
View More Updates+

Petition Letter

To Chairman of Tao Heung Group,

We urge Tao Heung Group to permanently remove shark fin soup from its restaurant menus.

Shark fin soup has been seen on the menus of multiple restaurants under Tao Heung Group including Joyous One, Cheers Restaurant, Pier 88 and Chao Inn. As one of Hong Kong’s largest catering groups, we believe Tao Heung Group can go beyond offering shark-free banquet upon request – to completely ban shark fin soup.

Hong Kong is the world’s largest center for the trade of shark fins, handling about 50 percent of the global trade. Shark populations are declining dramatically. Human activity is responsible for an estimated 100 million shark deaths globally every year. One of the key drivers is the excessive demand for shark fin. The marine ecosystems are seriously affected: sharks are top predators in the marine food chain and are important for balancing the numbers of other predators. More than a quarter of the world’s cartilaginous fish, including sharks, are threatened with extinction. The extinction risk of sharks is higher because many shark species take years to reach sexual maturity.

In 2013, shark fin was banned from Hong Kong’s government official functions. Moreover, over 45 airlines and 17 container shipping companies have refused to carry shark fins and growing numbers of companies in Hong Kong now no longer allow shark fin at company banquets.

Public opinion surveys between 2009 and 2014 on public attitudes to shark fin consumption in Hong Kong indicate that the consumption of shark fin is increasingly unacceptable. Hong Kong society is now more aware of shark finning and how consumption of the fins negatively impacts global shark population and the delicate marine ecosystem. Over half of the respondents to the survey had reduced shark fin soup consumption and 15.8% has completely stopped eating shark fin soup. Also a growing number of cooperatives including Maxim’s group, Cathay Pacific and Shangri-La Group have pledged to say no to shark products.

Just as Hong Kong consumers have a responsibility to stop eating shark fin, catering groups like Tao Heung have a corporate responsibility to stop selling it.

We strongly encourage Tao Heung Group to take the lead to promote sustainable alternatives for a better environment, rather than encourage the consumption of a species threatened with extinction and to kindly remove the shark fin soup from all menus.

Petition Creator

This petition was started by Hong Kong SharkFoundation 香港護鯊會 on January 29, 2021, with an end date of December 31, 2023.

HKSF exists to raise awareness about shark conservation, with particular emphasis on the unsustainable practice of shark finning, and to enlist support in helping to reduce the consumption of shark products in Hong Kong.

香港護鯊會 (HKSF) 旨在提高香港人保護鯊魚的意識,了解捕鯊割翅是不可持續的生產模式,呼籲市民減少消耗鯊魚製品。