Govt firm on shark hunting and fining ban – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: The state government is standing firm on its decision that shark hunting and fining activities in Sabah must be banned.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the proposal for the total ban had been brought to the state cabinet which unanimously agreed to the prohibition of such activities.

“There are no two ways about that and we have made our stand before. The state government has made a decision and we hope the federal government will respect that decision,” he said during a courtesy call by representatives from NGOs who would be participating in the shark ban public forum today in Semporna.

The state government, he added, was ready to help push for the ban to be implemented.

According to Masidi, the law banning shark hunting and fining had to be incorporated into federal law, which was why the state government had asked its federal counterpart to look into the provision of its Fisheries Act.

He assured shark protectors that the state government, on its part, was also looking at whether Sabah’s Wildlife Enactment could be used in providing a blanket protection order on sharks in our waters.

However, he urged those pushing for a ban on shark hunting and fining to pay a courtesy call on the federal minister, deputy minister in charge of fisheries or the director-general of the Fisheries Department to bring their attention to the issue.

“You can tell them that you are representing the youths and this is what they want,” Masidi stressed.

On worries by retailers, restaurateurs and fishermen whose income depended on sharks, Masidi said the state government was a responsible one and would ensure that these people had ample time to adjust to the ban on their activities.

“I still hope that those who oppose the banning of shark hunting and fining will see the benefits of this. They must realize that if there are no more sharks in Sabah, many more people will lose their jobs and businesses.

“The scuba diving industry is a multi-million dollar one and its spin-off into other areas of the tourism sector like food and beverage is also huge. No more sharks means no divers will come to Sabah and then who will patronize their business premises?” he asked.

Masidi also lauded the initiative by the group to start a petition for the setting up of a Semporna Shark Sanctuary and was of the opinion that it was a good step towards the ban on shark hunting and fining activities.

Source: http://www.sabahtoday.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3850:govt-firm-on-shark-hunting-and-fining-ban--masidi&catid=46:sabah&Itemid=56