Superstar Pong Nawat joins WildAid in the fight to end shark fin consumption

Superstar Pong Nawat joins WildAid in the fight to end shark fin consumption in Thailand
   

จากซ้ายไปขวา:
•   คุณเพชร มโนปวิตร ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านทรัพยากร และสิ่งแวดล้อมทางทะเล
•   มร. จอห์น เบเกอร์ ผู้อำนวยการฝ่ายโครงการรณรงค์ องค์กรไวล์ดเอด
•   คุณป้อง ณวัฒน์ กุลรัตนรักษ์  นักแสดง และทูตองค์กรไวลด์เอด
•   คุณโสภณ ทองดี รองอธิบดีกรมทรัพยากรทางทะเล และชายฝั่ง
•   ดร. วิชาญ อิงศรีสว่าง ผู้อำนวยการกองวิจัยและพัฒนาประมงทะเล กรมประมง พูดแทนฉลาม 

From Left to Right:
•   Mr. Petch Manopawitr, Marine Scientist 
•   Mr. John Baker, Chief Program Officer, WildAid
•   Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak, Actor and WildAid Ambassador
•   Mr. Sopon Thongdee, Deputy Director General, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
•   Dr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, Director, Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division, Department of Fisheries


จากซ้ายไปขวา:
•   ราเบีย มุสตัค, ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านการสื่อสาร (ประเทศไทย), องค์กรไวล์ดเอด
•   คุณเพชร มโนปวิตร ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านทรัพยากร และสิ่งแวดล้อมทางทะเล
•   มร. จอห์น เบเกอร์ ผู้อำนวยการฝ่ายโครงการรณรงค์ องค์กรไวล์ดเอด
•   คุณป้อง ณวัฒน์ กุลรัตนรักษ์  นักแสดง และทูตองค์กรไวลด์เอด
•   คุณโสภณ ทองดี รองอธิบดีกรมทรัพยากรทางทะเล และชายฝั่ง
•   ดร. วิชาญ อิงศรีสว่าง ผู้อำนวยการกองวิจัยและพัฒนาประมงทะเล กรมประมง พูดแทนฉลาม 
•   คุณแมดเดอลีน เจียระพฤต ตัวแทนบริษัทโฆษณา BBDO Bangkok
•   คุณชิน ศิรชัย อรุณรักษ์ติชัย ช่างภาพสารคดีเชิงอนุรักษ์
•   นุชหทัย โชติช่วง, ตัวแทนไวล์ดเอด ประเทศไทย, องค์กรไวล์ดเอด

From Left to right:
•   Rabia Mushtaq, Communications Specialist (Thailand), WildAid
•   Petch Manopawitr, Marine Scientist 
•   John Baker, Chief Program Officer, WildAid
•   Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak, Actor and WildAid Ambassador
•   Sopon Thongdee, Deputy Director General, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
•   Dr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, Director, Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division, Department of Fisheries





BANGKOK (17th July 2018) — on 14th July, also Shark Awareness Day, Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak, Thailand’s superstar and passionate diver joined WildAid’s fight to end shark fin consumption in Thailand in a new campaign called #ฉลองไม่ฉลาม #NoSharkFin, also endorsed by Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. WildAid launched a video message starring Pong Nawat called “Speak for Sharks” which shows cruelty behind shark fin consumption and urges the public not to consume or serve shark fin at weddings, family gatherings, business meetings or any other celebratory events.






Pong Nawat Kulrattanarak, known for his lead roles in Thailand and in Chinese television dramas has a strong passion for sharks and SCUBA diving. “Encountering sharks during my dive brings me extreme joy and makes that moment the highlight of my day. In recent years, sighting sharks in the ocean has become more and more difficult. Sharks are vital to the balance of the ocean’s ecosystem and we need to realize that before it’s too late. I urge everyone to say no to shark fin and all shark-related menus, and help protect the oceans by making #NoSharkFin #ฉลองไม่ฉลาม the new norm for all occasions.” said Nawat Kulrattanarak.

According to WildAid’s 2017 Shark Fin Demand in Thailand report findings, more than half of urban Thais have eaten shark fin and 61% plan to consume it again in the future. Survey respondents said they consumed shark fin most often at weddings (72%), family meals at restaurants (61%) and business meetings (47%).

“Does a celebratory event need to have shark fin on the menu to show that you have honor? I urge everyone to stop serving shark fin at your events and I believe that in return you will receive much more honor and respect.” said Dr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, Director, Marine Fisheries and Research and Development Division, Department of Fisheries at the #ฉลองไม่ฉลาม #NoSharkFin campaign launch.

A large proportion of people still remain unaware about the magnitude and cruelty of the shark fin trade, suggesting a concerning potential for increased demand for fins in Thailand. The campaign’s goal is to fill this gap and raise awareness to change consumer attitudes towards sharks and shark fin consumption.

An estimated 100 million sharks are killed every year and fins from up to 73 million of those end up in shark fin soup. Thailand is home to an active domestic market for fins, with many consumers unaware of the cruel practice of "finning" behind each bowl of shark fin soup: a shark’s fins are often cut off at sea and the shark is thrown back into the water to die.

“As apex predator sharks maintain the balance in marine ecosystem, they are indicators of ocean’s good health just like tigers are indicators of a healthy forest. But, today the worlds’ sharks are facing a threat from extinction and only we can help them. While we still have sharks to protect, we need to educate the younger generation on the issue and persuade the older generations who believe shark fin soup is a luxurious delicacy to say no to consuming shark fin for our oceans health.” said Sopon Thongdee, Deputy Director General, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

The creative concept of #ฉลองไมฉลาม #NoSharkFin campaign and video message ‘speak for sharks’ was developed pro bono by BBDO Bangkok, Thailand’s leading creative and advertising agency. The creative idea for the video message was inspired from the fact that sharks lack organs to produce sound, making us humans the only ones that can speak up for them.

“With the backing of celebrity ambassador Pong Nawat, government agencies, corporate and media partners, we hope to garner more support for our cause. The more people learn about the impacts of consuming shark fin soup, the less they want to take part in this cruel trade. Together, we can end the demand for shark fin in Thailand and save dwindling shark populations, because when the buying stops, the killing can too.” said John Baker, Chief Program Officer, WildAid.

The campaign and WildAid ambassador  launch was held at CentralWorld Department Store alongside an exhibit on 14th-15th July, 2018 showcasing importance of sharks, threats sharks face due to shark fin consumption, and photographs from Thailand’s leading underwater photographer Nat Sumanatemeya and Sirachai Arunrugstichai, a marine biologist and conservation photojournalist. The event also had edutainment activites by Love Wildlife Foundation and Lush Thailand for families.

About WildAid
WildAid is a nonprofit organization with a mission to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes. While most conservation groups focus on directly protecting wildlife from poaching, WildAid primarily works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products, such as shark fin and elephant ivory, by changing attitudes and behavior, and providing comprehensive enforcement of marine sanctuaries. In Asia, where demand for ivory is highest, WildAid runs its Ivory Free campaigns in China, Hong Kong and now Thailand. With a global media partner network and a team of celebrity ambassadors including Prince William, Yao Ming and Lupita Nyong’o, WildAid leverages over $200 million in annual pro bono media support with a simple yet powerful message: When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too. For more information, visit http://www.wildaid.org/  www.ivoryfreethai.org