The Soup Survey

(TAKEN FROM WILDAID)

Through telephone surveys in Hong Kong and Taiwan, 1,000 people were surveyed in 2000 and 2003 to 'assess changes in public opinion during the intervening three years'. In 2000 they were asked whether or not they eat shark fin soup, and once more in 2003. If they replied yes, they were asked whether they ate more, less, or the same amount as they did in 2000.

TAIWAN:

...........................2000.........2003............% change
Don't eat it ..........30............ 44................... +14%
Eat more............. 21................6.................... -15%
Eat less ................25 ............37 ....................+12%
Eat the same...... 24 .............11 .....................-13%
Don't know........... 0............... 1 ..........................na

HONG KONG:

...........................2000 ..........2003........... % change
Eat more ............28 ..................5.................. -23%
Eat less............... 13 ................38................. +25%
Eat the same .....56 ................54.................... -2%
Don't know ........<3.................>3..................... n/a

In both of the surveys, people were asked if they would continue to buy shark fin soup if it decreased shark populations and resulted in a 5% decrease in the number of respondents who had said 'yes'.

The survey has not been conducted in Singapore or Thailand, but reports show that Thailand's consumption rate has dropped by 30% since WildAid's campain and efforts, and 25% in Singapore.