In December 2013, the University has added to the Green Purchasing Guidelines a new ban on the consumption of bluefin tuna and black moss for all activities either organized or paid for by the University, and for all University purchases, as well as meals served in club houses, canteens or restaurants operated by the University and Colleges.

There is growing international concern on the consumption of shark’s fin, bluefin tuna and black moss because they are captured or harvested in ecologically unsustainable ways, or ways that are harmful to the environment.

Among the three species of bluefin tuna, the Atlantic bluefin and the Southern bluefin are listed as ‘endangered’ and ‘critically endangered’ respectively. The remaining one, the Pacific bluefin, though not listed as endangered yet, has suffered a 96% drop in population since the 1950s, due to overfishing. Bluefin tuna is one of the species in the red ‘avoid’ list of WWF Hong Kong’s Sustainable Seafood Guide.

Black moss is traditionally served as a delicacy in Chinese meals. However, there are concerns that overharvesting of the vegetable is destroying grasslands and exacerbating desertification in China.