The signatures were collected from a Humphead wrasse public awareness campaign organized by WWF Hong Kong and Ocean Park in early June to raise public awareness on the conservation status and threats of the species. The campaign also invited the public to help save the species by becoming green consumers and following the green eating guidelines when selecting the reef fish for banquets. Public have signed up on our website to show their support and concern for the conservation of the species.

"We are very impressed by the number of people who have signed up to show their concern and care for the conservation of Humphead wrasse. It shows that many people are willing to take concrete actions to protect our marine resources when they know the species is on the verge of extinction. Public support is the key to the success of all conservation programmes and WWF will continue to enhance public participation in our future conservation action campaigns," said Mr Eric Bohm, WWF Hong Kong CEO.

A recently published report, written by Dr Yvonne Sadovy at the University of Hong Kong and other scientists, suggests wild populations of Humphead wrasse have become severely reduced and that within the next ten years may disappear completely if the fishing trend continues. The major threat to wild populations of Humphead wrasse is the international trade of both juvenile and adult individuals for food which centred in Hong Kong and Southern China region.