Andy Cornish

As head of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s global shark and ray conservation programme, Andy Cornish has played a vital role in improving fisheries management and managing unsustainable consumption across Asia.

Some of his highlights include working on the WWF ‘Save Our Seas’ campaign, which resulted in the ban of all trawling in Hong Kong waters in 2012. As well as his most recent role as leader of WWF’s global shark conservation programme ‘Restoring the Balance’.

Raised in Hong Kong, Cornish was one of the first diving scientists studying fish in the city, he recorded over 100 new species of fish, “Hong Kong lies on the fringes of the Coral Triangle, so there is a surprisingly rich marine biodiversity.”

Cornish’s role has taken him across 20 countries, but he now resides in rural Lantau, surrounded by greenery and wildlife with his two-year-old son. “Living away from the city has been a great way to step away from the rollercoaster,” he says.

While Hong Kong’s marine life is slowly improving, Cornish states, “I always tell people, if you want to see what ground zero is like for sharks, come here.”

If you want to see what ground zero is like for sharks, come here

Leader WWF global shark conservation programme ‘Restoring the Balance’