Hong Kong may be losing its taste for shark fin but illegal trade is still pushing species to the brink

Shark fin soup’s attraction may be declining in Hong Kong, but the city remains a hub for illegal trading, with 29 tonnes of fins seized in 2020
Increasing penalties for traffickers is crucial, but boycotting fin products further reduces demand and sends a clear message that consumers want sustainability

Andy CornishandLaurence McCook

Published: 10:15am, 30 Jan 2022

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Do you remember the furore back in 2005 when the public learned that shark fin soup was to be included on the menu at Hong Kong Disneyland?

Shark fin consumption is a well-documented issue here. What is less well known is that Hong Kong is the world capital for shark and ray fin seizures – including a whopping 10 tonnes, or HK$110 million (US$12 million) worth, last October – and that the illegal fin trade in and through the city is contributing to a global extinction crisis.

So why is it legal to trade in some shark or ray fin but not others? It comes down to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. Forty-three species of sharks and rays can only be traded internationally if the exporting country issues a CITES permit certifying that fishing is not endangering the survival of the species.

Compared to other fish species, sharks and rays are especially vulnerable because many are slow-growing and slow to reproduce. The CITES restrictions on trading them reflect global concerns that the demand for shark and ray products (mostly fin and meat) is driving population decline. Hong Kong is still a global hub for this demand and for re-exporting to mainland China and Vietnam.

Most of the fin seizures in Hong Kong are of CITES-listed species being smuggled in without the necessary permits. In the first 10 months of last year, more than 15 tonnes of shark fin were seized. The fins were coming from more than 14 countries, including Mexico, Sri Lanka, and a number of African countries.

These huge smuggling operations indicate that the demand for shark and ray fin in Hong Kong and the markets it exports to far exceeds what is available legally, and that there are big profits to be made by meeting that demand.

But sharks and rays have value beyond the dollars that can be made from trading their body parts. They play many key roles in the marine ecosystems they inhabit.

They are indispensable not only to ocean health, but also to the well-being of millions of people across the globe who rely on them for food, income and tourism opportunities. And they even provide a crucial buffer against climate change by helping with carbon sequestration.

Sadly, around 100 million sharks are caught annually worldwide. Of the fins sold in Hong Kong, none are from sustainable and traceable sources. In that respect, little has changed since 2005 when Disneyland planned to include shark fin soup on its menu. Although shark fin consumption in Hong Kong has declined since then, the decline in numbers of shark and ray species is far more significant.

Right now, 37 per cent of all species of sharks and rays are at risk of extinction, with over 90 species critically endangered. Tragically, three species may already have disappeared forever, including the “lost shark” which used to inhabit the South China Sea but hasn’t been seen for decades.

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Thousands of shark fins bound for Hong Kong confiscated in Colombia

The role of Hong Kong in driving species outside its borders to extinction becomes clearer when you look at the species being seized. Last June and August, authorities seized nearly 4 tonnes of fins taken from guitarfish, a group of sharklike rays found in the Atlantic. Of the 16 subspecies, all but one are now critically endangered.

While we can’t be sure whether these highly-valued fins were destined for local consumption or re-export, it seems safe to assume that some were intended to be laundered through legal stockpiles for dining tables in Hong Kong.

With the efforts of Hong Kong Customs and the increased number of species listed on CITES, fin seizures peaked in 2020 from an average of 2 tonnes between 2014 and 2019 to a shocking 29 tonnes.

Almost 10 tonnes of shark fin worth HK$10 million was seized by Hong Kong Customs in October 2021 as part of a record HK$210 million haul of luxury goods destined for the mainland. Five men were arrested. Photo: Dickson Lee

In addition to increasing penalties for offences under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in 2018, the inclusion of illegal wildlife trade in the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance after years of government lobbying by NGOs, including WWF-Hong Kong, gives the government more investigative and enforcement power to combat trafficking.

The law enables authorities to prosecute the syndicates at the centre of organised wildlife crime instead of the individual smugglers. Given that Hong Kong is a key fin trading hub, enforcement of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance is key to protecting endangered species.

Yet while high-level action is needed, the impact of our daily food choices is often overlooked. Hong Kong, a city of 7.7 million people, is the world’s largest importer of shark and ray fin, accounting for over 50 per cent of the average annual global imports.

We all have a part to play in reducing the demand for shark and ray fin products. You should say no to shark fin soup at wedding and business banquets and convince your family, friends and colleagues to do the same. You should also aim to buy only fish with stable populations, using the WWF Seafood Guide to help you.

Boycotting illegal and unsustainable trade sends a clear signal to source countries that we demand sustainable fisheries. Eventually, by improving fishing practices, we can save these majestic marine animals from the fate of the dinosaurs.

Dr Andy Cornish is the leader of Sharks: Restoring the Balance, WWF’s global shark and ray programme. Professor Laurence McCook is head of oceans conservation at WWF-Hong Kong