NEW SENSE OF HOPE FOR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF SHARKS? by Demian Chapman A curious and encouraging thing is happening in Hong Kong, one of the world’s major gateways to the Mainland Chinese shark fin markets. Shark fin prices are dropping. Imports are dropping too. Could it be that the demand for shark fin soup is waning in Hong Kong and possibly China as well? Wave after wave of public awareness campaigns, coupled with high profile media attention on the plight of sharks, appears, to the eyes of consumers, to have tainted this culinary status symbol. After nearly two decades of studying sharks, and as I plan my next expedition to the Bahamas to study oceanic whitetips, I have a new sense of hope for their long-term survival. At the same time I think we all must remain very cautious.