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Fiji Airways and Fiji Government: Please Stop Trafficking Shark Fin to China
Alex H.
started this petition to
Mr Aubrey Swift, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
The export of shark fin extracted from Fiji's marine environment, and that of its neighbouring states in the South Pacific, imposes a direct threat to Fiji's economy and its image as a prestigious tourist destination.
A recent report found Fiji's tourism industry to be worth some US$558 million per year. A major portion of Fiji Airways revenue is derived from passenger sales from tourists, many of whom come to Fiji to experience the country's world class diving. The same report states that the shark dive tourism industry is worth US$42.2 million a year to Fiji's economy.
A United Nations (UN) Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report states that 939 tonnes a year of shark fins are exported from Fiji to Hong Kong. Up to 50% of all traded shark fin globally passes through Hong Kong, much of it destined for mainland China. This unsustainable trade has led to the direct threat of many species of sharks from around the world.
Last year, Hong Kong's flagship airline, Cathay Pacific Airways recognised the problem and took the commendable step 'to stop shipping unsustainably sourced sharks and shark-related products' on it's cargo fleet [1]. We kindly ask that Fiji Airways, Cathay Pacific's code-share partner, do the same thing.
Locally, we applaud Fiji Airways commitment to marine conservation, particularly its funding and continued partnership with the Mamanuca Environment Society and the protection of the Mamanuca Islands.
We congratulate the airline's role in preserving the environment and promoting environmental awareness through school and community programs.
A recent report found Fiji's tourism industry to be worth some US$558 million per year. A major portion of Fiji Airways revenue is derived from passenger sales from tourists, many of whom come to Fiji to experience the country's world class diving. The same report states that the shark dive tourism industry is worth US$42.2 million a year to Fiji's economy.
A United Nations (UN) Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report states that 939 tonnes a year of shark fins are exported from Fiji to Hong Kong. Up to 50% of all traded shark fin globally passes through Hong Kong, much of it destined for mainland China. This unsustainable trade has led to the direct threat of many species of sharks from around the world.
Last year, Hong Kong's flagship airline, Cathay Pacific Airways recognised the problem and took the commendable step 'to stop shipping unsustainably sourced sharks and shark-related products' on it's cargo fleet [1]. We kindly ask that Fiji Airways, Cathay Pacific's code-share partner, do the same thing.
Locally, we applaud Fiji Airways commitment to marine conservation, particularly its funding and continued partnership with the Mamanuca Environment Society and the protection of the Mamanuca Islands.
We congratulate the airline's role in preserving the environment and promoting environmental awareness through school and community programs.
However Fiji Airways role in aiding and abetting the strip-mining of the oceans, and its complicity as a link in the shark fin supply chain to Asia, directly contradicts the airline's conservation goals. This places the the newly branded airline in a highly unfavourable light. Therefore we ask that the newly-launched Fiji Airways do the right thing and adopt a consistent policy towards marine conservation.
[1] Cathay Pacific statement on its restrictive carriage policy on sharks and shark-related products:
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/aboutus/pressroomdetails?refID=4a77a6b7203e9310VgnVCM1000000ad21c39____
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