A group of individuals concerned with the future of shark populations officially launched the No Shark Fins Singapore campaign at the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2012 today. First initiated as an online petition in January, the cause attracted 80,000 supporters within its first two weeks of being posted, and the group decided to push for greater impact by formally launching a campaign with an action plan.
Through this campaign, the group hopes to make Singapore shark fin-free by 2013 and is looking to convince all Chinese restaurants, and companies to remove shark fins from their menus and corporate events respectively, and conduct active outreach programmes to primary and secondary schools. Internationally-recognised photographer and diver Michael Aw initiated this campaign.
Non-profit organisations that have so far shown their support for this ground-up shark conservation campaign include WWF Singapore, Project FIN, Fauna and Flora International, IUCN, Shark Research Institute, and Humane Society International. The group is speaking with other non-profit organisations to widen support for shark conservation.
Explaining the need to take action, Michael Aw said, “For the good of our oceans and future generations, change must come from within. Being a prominent economy in the heart of Asia, Singapore should take the lead as a socially responsible country to be the first in Asia to make this happen.”
“To protect sharks, we must first appreciate the animal. Sharks have been around for over 400 million years – they are the guardians of our ocean. They are old friends. We certainly need a friendlier image for sharks,” he added.
For more information, please contact:
Olivia ChoongSustainable PR
olivia@sustainablepr.sg
+65 9688 7449
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