As many of you may already know, Disney Hong Kong will be offering shark fin soup on the menu at its hotel when the resort opens in September. Ironically, Disneyland boasts its involvement in various “environmental” projects including various wildlife conservation programs through its “Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund”.

This issue has received quite a bit of press in recent months and a positive action on this issue by Disney would send a good message. I encourage all of you to write to the individuals below and respectfully appeal to them to abandon shark fins from their menus.

Group Managing Director HK Disneyland, Mr. Don Robinson: don.robinson@disney.com

Hong Kong Disneyland VP of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Roy Hardy: roy.hardy@disney.com

Hong Kong Disneyland Corporate Communications, Ms. Irene Chan: irene.chan@disney.com

Public Affairs Team: hkdl.mousemail@disney.com

Disney Corporate Communications, U.S.: TWDC.CorpoCommunications@disney.com

Demand for shark fin soup in Asia is the primary contributing factor to the global decline in shark populations. Often, sharks are “finned” and the rest of their bodies, often still alive, are dumped back into the sea, with Hong Kong being the world’s largest trader in shark fins. Many shark species are threatened with extinction due to overfishing. Where once shark fin soup was once an expensive luxury for the privileged few in southern China, it is now mass-produced and has become routine at weddings, banquets and business dinners for millions of people around the world.

Recent research shows precipitous declines in shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic. Since 1986 hammerhead have eclined by 89%, thresher sharks by 80%, white sharks by 79% and tiger sharks by 67%. All recorded shark species, with one exception have declined by more than 50% in the past 8-15 years. The continued removal of sharks from the ecosystems will obviously have dire consequences for the rest of the marine enviroment.

• Re: Shark Fin Soup - OLD NEWS . 14:24:37 08/19/05 (0)