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Kota Kinabalu: Reef shark populations have fallen by 98 per cent
in 15 years and Technical Advisor of The Green Connection (Aquarium and
Science Discovery Centre), Prof Steve Oakley, attributed this to the
Government having allowed shark fishing for many years.
"Unfortunately, due to the increase in demand, the shark populations
cannot support the fishery any longer. Most shark species have a
relatively small range. Hammerhead sharks around Sipadan are being
caught when they move away to feed at night," he said in a press
statement, Saturday, in response to those who oppose the "Say No To
Shark Fins Soup" Campaign.
The Green Connection is a partner in the campaign organised by JCI
Tanjung Aru. Disclosing that there are no sharks in most of Sabah's
national parks, Prof Oakley said six of our competitor tourist countries
(Palau, Guam, Seychelles, Maldives, Honduras and Hawaii) have banned
catching sharks.
He added that Bahamas have the most sharks in the world because of a
20-year-old ban on longline fishing. "Bans are being prepared for
California, Oregon and other coastal US areas."
According to him, sharks contain toxic amounts of methyl mercury, which
causes brain damage. "Please don't feed them to pregnant ladies or
children. For an infant, poisoning is mental development disturbances
and for an adult heavy damage to the central nervous system.
These express themselves by headache, memory difficulties or depression,
besides kidney damages, cancer and massive damages of the brain, he
said.
Prof Oakley warned that there are 420 micrograms of methyl mercury in a
normal 300gm shark steak portion and this is 60 times more than a 70kg
heavy consumer per day may have.
"The danger value is 0.1 microgram per kg body weight and day.
This value was specified by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in a
toxicologist committee and is considered as new international standard.
A consumer might take only 5 gram blue shark steak or 12.7 gram of
smoked rock salmon (smoked dogfish) per day," he said, adding each
higher dose can have serious consequences.
Meanwhile, JCI Tanjung Aru's "Say No To Shark Fins" Campaign Project
Chairman, Aderick Chong expressed confidence that when Sabah joins the
rest of the popular diving destinations to ban sharks from being
harvested, the State will be in the forefront of the best dive
destinations, attracting tourists all over the world.
"Portraying Sabah as 'A shark fins free state' would be a good marketing tool for Sabah tourism," he said.
Chong said conserving sharks in Sabah ensures that sharks will still be in our waters for our next generation to see.
"Sabah's unique marine beauty is a heritage to be treasured and protected.
It is a heritage to be inherited by our next generation and for them to be proud of".
He thanked all those who agree to conserve sharks, especially the
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun.
"For those who oppose, I hope that in time you would understand the
importance of sharks to business. More Sharks = More Tourists and More
Tourists = More Business," he said.
17 comments:
Reef shark populations have fallen by 98 per cent in 15 years, this is a serous drop in shark population. Hope that the shark hunting ban will stop the sharks from going into extinction.
Datuk Masidi said that we must protect and treasure our marine heritage, I completely agree with his statement.
Does it mean there is only 2% shark population remains now?
Efforts must be taken to bring the population of sharks back, I'm glad the government have begun to ban shark hunting in the state.
If we don't start protecting our natural heritage now, there will be nothing left for the future generation.
Di Sabah, awal tahun ni sebarang penangkapan spesis ikan yu adalah diharamkan. Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah, Datuk Masidi Manjun berkata, pihaknya amat berharap satu pindaan terhadap perlembagaan Persekutuan supaya mengharamkan sebarang penangkapan ikan yu termasuk mengambil sirip ikan yu di kawasan perairan Sabah.
bilangan yu kini makin berkurangan, kerana itulah ia harus dilindungi dari kepupusan.
Spesis ini akan pupus jika aktiviti pembunuhan tidak dikawal.
Keseimbangan ekosistem harus diutamakan supaya spesis unikini tidak pupus di generasi ini.
Tiada permintaan, maka tiada pembunuhan.
Its our mistakes do not protect our land.
Ini jusg kesalahan rakyat sendiri yang tidak sedar diri bahwa kepentingan menjaga alam sekitar terutama spesis yang semakin berkurangan.
Please stop killing the shark for the people consumption.
Ketatkan undang-undang demi bumi kami yan terancam.
Banyak golongan masih tidka sedar diri kepentingan ekosistem yang terancam. Harus juga pihak kerajaan menyeru untuk menjaga alam persekitaran.
Rakyat harus berhenti makan shark fin, cuma yang ini dapat menghentikan mereka membunuh lagi.
The hotels/restaurants should stop providing shark fin soup.
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