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Alibaba and Yahoo Not only are Alibaba listing companies that sell shark fin, they are also listing companies that sell fins of endangered species of shark. Demand that Alibaba and their associate Yahoo remove all companies that sell shark fins from their web site by sending the letters below (or your own versions would be even better!) to the addresses underneath. Alibaba is the internet gateway to China for companies who want to do business there. Stopping the listing of shark fins on Alibaba could have a signficant impact on the trade. Take a few minutes to print off a letter and mail it - you could make a difference. Letters. Letter to Alibaba: Dear Sirs, I am aware that Alibaba.com is listing shark fins for sale on its website. A search on your website for "shark fins" produces a listing with various companies offering shark fin for sale, mostly of unidentified species. There are currently three species of shark that are listed in Appendix II of the CITES list as endangered; the whale shark, the great white shark and the basking shark. As most of the companies offering shark products do not state from what species of shark their products are derived it is entirely possible that they are from species listed by CITES. Is Alibaba aware that many shark fins, possibly the majority, are obtained via the practice of "finning" whereby the shark has its fins sliced off onboard the fishing vessel, and it is returned, usually still living, to the sea, where it dies slowly? Are you also aware that this practice, along with unsustainable fishing methods such as long-lining, is responsible for the decimation of shark populations throughout the world, and that if action is not taken immediately we will face the extinction of many shark species? The IUCN Red List lists 20 species of shark which are definitely endangered: http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search-basic Among these 20 sharks is the black tip shark – several of the companies that Alibaba lists are offering fins from black tip sharks. Alibaba, and its partner Yahoo, are therefore a party to the trade in endangered species. Alibaba's actions are currently contributing to the decline of shark species populations, many of which could become extinct within a few years if we do not act now. I strongly urge Alibaba to take a responsible, proactive attitude towards conservation and remove all shark products, especially shark fins, from its listings. I will also be contacting Yahoo and the press about this matter. Sincerely, Please send a copy to any or all of the addresses below (if sending to just one, send to the office nearest you, or alternatively to the Hong Kong international headquarters): Alibaba addresses: Hong Kong Office: US Office: Europe Office: Shanghai Office: Beijing Office: Hangzhou Office: Guangzhou Office: Letter to Yahoo Dear Ms. Decker, I am aware that Yahoo's partner in China, Alibaba.com, is listing shark fins for sale on its website. A search on Alibaba's website for "shark fins" produces a listing with various companies offering shark fin for sale, mostly of unidentified species. There are currently three species of shark that are listed in Appendix II of the CITES list as endangered; the whale shark, the great white shark and the basking shark. As most of the companies offering shark products do not state from what species of shark their products are derived it is entirely possible that they are from species listed by CITES. Is Yahoo aware that many shark fins,
possibly the majority, are obtained via the practice of
"finning" whereby the shark has its fins sliced off onboard
the fishing vessel, and it is returned, usually still
living, to the sea, where it dies slowly? Are you also
aware that this practice, along with unsustainable fishing
methods such as long-lining, is responsible for the decimation
of shark populations throughout the world, and that if
action is not taken immediately we will face the extinction
of many shark species? The IUCN Red List lists 20 species
of shark which are definitely endangered: Alibaba's actions (and by association, Yahoo's) are currently contributing to the decline of shark species populations, many of which could become extinct within a few years if we do not act now. I strongly urge Yahoo and Alibaba to take a responsible, proactive attitude towards conservation and remove all shark products, especially shark fins, from Alibaba's web site. I am also contacting Alibaba and both the national and international press about this matter. Sincerely, Yahoo address: Yahoo email address: Contacting the press - please also send an email to any newpapers or TV stations that you can. Let them know of Alibaba's and Yahoo's implication in the bloody trade of shark finning. Petition. Sign this petition against Alibaba. |
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