So much of BLOOM HK’s work is made more fruitful with the support of corporate sectors. Shark fin is, after all, a much sought after commercial commodity with its trade and provisions controlled by retailers, wholesalers, hotels and restaurants. Engaging the corporate sector to help them make informed decisions about what they are buying and selling has hence become a core part of BLOOM HK’s marine conservation campaign.
SHARK CONSUMPTION AND TRADE: HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
Shark fin soup is a luxury seafood dish, most commonly found in Hong Kong in the menus of upper-end restaurants. A decision on the part of these restaurants to stop using shark fins known to be from unsustainable sources would greatly minimize the impact on Hong Kong’s shark fin trade and demands on global shark fisheries. However, few restaurants have the knowledge and resources to implement proper procurement policies for shark fins and other seafoods.
From 2010 to 2013, BLOOM HK has been regularly organising seminars for Hong Kong’s hotels and private clubs to raise awareness for their restaurants’ roles in shark conservation. At around the same time, other local NGOs and ocean conservation groups had also launched similar campaigns. By 2013, 15 hotels had removed shark fin dishes completely from their menus, and a further 20 will not present shark fin dishes on their menus, but will serve those dishes based on customers’ specific requests.
Currently, BLOOM HK welcomes any invitations for shark and ocean conservation seminars from hotels and other corporations. For related inquiries, please contact kathleenho@bloomassociation.org
Download
The campaign leaflet: Eight Good Reasons to Eliminate Shark Fin From Banquet Menus
COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGNS
Cosmetics brand Chantecaille became a collaborating partner with BLOOM HK in 2013. The brand vouched to never use shark-related materials (including squalene and squalane) in any of their cosmetics products. A portion of Chantecaille’s profit made from their specially designed Save the Sharks Palette is given to BLOOM HK as a donation.
Bloom Association is fighting to remove shark-related materials from other cosmetic brands around the world. For more details on the latest campaign, click here.
MARINE PROTECTION AND COASTAL-CLEAUPS
The awareness for Hong Kong’s longstanding problem of marine trash was amplified in the July 2012 plastic pellets spill, when six 40ft-long shipping containers each holding 25,000 kg of pre-production plastic pellets spilled into the ocean, washing into Hong Kong’s coasts and beaches.
In the previous years, BLOOM HK has organised coastal cleanup activities for various corporate groups. Interest to host such activities are welcome. For related inquiries, please contact kathleenho@bloomassociation.org
LOCAL REEF FISH BIODIVERSITY SEMINARS
BLOOM HK is currently engaged in an underwater visual survey to document the reef fish species found in Hong Kong waters. We welcome an interest in hosting seminars for corporate (or non-corporate) groups on topics related to local marine conservation. For related inquiries, please contact kathleenho@bloomassociation.org