The Fin Free Thailand campaign, aimed at reducing the consumption of shark fin soup in the Kingdom, held its launch party this weekend at the highly suitable Banyan Tree Bangkok – one of the city’s first hotel properties to strike shark fin soup from its menu.
Amongst the Fin Free ambassadors at the event were two spirited students, Namsai Sethpornpong and Pavin Sethbhakdi, who gave a presentation on how shark finning has become a highly unsustainable industry that is damaging the health of our oceans.
The two presenters pointed out that 73 million sharks were being killed every year so that their fins could be harvested, an activity that has resulted in 20 sharks being placed on the endangered species list.
This over-hunting of sharks threatens ocean ecosystems, where sharks serve an essential role by consuming medium-sized fish, who in turn consume smaller fish that threaten the ocean’s supply of algae.
After the press conference at the Banyan Tree, Fin Free supporters gathered at Lumpini Park to take part in a march that led from the park grounds to Central World. Around 100 people, including celebrity ambassadors, shouted, “No shark fin!” and waved sign posts that carried the same message in Thai and English.
Our voices got especially loud when we passed by hotel properties along the way. Finally, in front of Central World, the walkers froze for a few moments to let the public have a good look at the posters, and let the words sink in.
