Dear Mr. Leung,
We, the citizens of Hong Kong and around the world, call on you to take prompt actions to stop the illegal smuggling of totoaba fish maws (swim bladders) via Hong Kong, for the sake of saving the remaining 97 vaquitas living in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
The vaquita and the totoaba are not just faraway animals with strange names, but also symbols of the terrible cost of human greed, on the verge of disappearing from the planet forever. Both species have been classified as the most critically endangered species for around 30 years, which means they need strict protections.
However, Greenpeace's recent investigation in the dried seafood street in Sheung Wan HK did reveal the fact that indeed illegal totoaba fish maws can be found and traded in Hong Kong, which then is used to fuel the money driven game by those reckless traders and speculators.
Hong Kong is proud of having one of the freest ports in the world, but shamefully it turns out to be the laundering hub of trading endangered species illegally. We urge you to stop those ruthless traders from abusing Hong Kong's free trade status and taking advantages from the poorly endangered species including totoaba.
We, the global community, call on Mr. CY Leung to STOP such illegal trade of totoaba fish maw, and to take tangible steps to eradicate the smuggling by doing the following immediately:
- Increase resources to train up appropriate government authorities in order to identify suspicious totoaba fish maws at all border areas and key trading markets;
- Raise the penalties for offenders in order to discourage such illegal practice;
- Upscale HK's effort in CITES enforcement by setting up a specific task force on wildlife crime which should include the HK Police, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the Customs and Excise Department;
- Upscale the joint efforts with governments from Mexico, US and mainland China, specifically to increase the intel exchange and inspection capacity of totoaba fish maws smuggling.
Every box or shipment of totoaba discovered and intercepted would send a strong signal to smugglers that Hong Kong will not tolerate this crime. Please ensure that this black market cruelty does not have the ground to continue and the crucial trade ethics and responsibility could be rebuilt in Hong Kong.
[Your comments here]
Stop the immoral trade and cut the link to destructive fishing!
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
