Cathay Pacific targeted in shark fin protest at Hong Kong International Airport
Pressure on carrier to follow lead of HK Express and impose outright ban rather than persisting with its ‘sustainable’ policy
Wildlife campaigners kept up the pressure on Cathay Pacific Airways to stop carrying shark fin cargo by staging a protest at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday, days after HK Express became the first local carrier to ban shipments.
Nine protesters wearing shark costumes held posters and slogans at Cathay’s check-in area and later staged a sit-in to get their message across about what the airline calls its “sustainable” shark fin policy.
The 45-minute protest led to a stand-off with airport and security staff and police.
The airline has not imposed an outright ban but instead set up a panel of experts to decide on a case-by-case basis whether each shipment is from a sustainable source. Campaigners argue that it is often impossible to verify whether cargoes are sustainable or not.
Cathay said the negativity was unwarranted as it was one of the first airlines in the world to raise awareness of the unsustainability of the global shark fin trade back in 2012.
