Hello, we are two 3rd Year students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It's our pleasure and honor to be interns in 2021 at the Hong Kong Shark Foundation. We appreciate the hard work and dedication the Foundation has devoted to environmental protection. After joining the organization, our perception towards sharks completely changed - sharks are more afraid of you than you are of them!

Most of you may assume sharks as killers, which leads to fear and suspicion. However, these prejudices are mostly reinforced by the media, like the famous Jaws movie franchise. Based on scientific research, there is only one in 3,748,067 chances you could be attacked and killed by a shark, which is a very small possibility. This is not an excuse to treat sharks in an unfair way.

Did you know we kill over 100 million sharks per year? Every time there is a shark attack somewhere, humans just go on a rampage and kill every shark in the area. An estimated number of 100 million sharks are killed annually for their fins alone. Comparatively, deadly shark attacks against humans are extremely rare. By comparison, on average there are 6-8 people killed every year by shark attacks. It is clear who is more dangerous when comparing sharks and humans.

You may have heard that eating shark fin soup could bring health benefits, like improving our sexual potency, skin quality, and prevention of certain diseases. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these alleged health benefits.  Additionally, not only do the fins contain heavy metal poisons like mercury, lead, and arsenic, it is absolutely inhumane to continue hunting sharks and consuming fins. Moreover, consuming shark fin soup has long been a Chinese traditional culture, which also contributed to 1/3 of sharks now facing EXTINCTION.  That said, will you still consume shark fin soup? 

Sharks are apex predators that keep the whole delicate marine ecosystem balanced and without sharks, we humans cannot survive. Is it time to protect the sharks in order to help ourselves and promote marine conservation? In the eyes of “face” and “survive”, which one will you select, either consume or stop?  Say “NO” to shark fin soup!

Remember - when the buying stops, the killings stop TOO!