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

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Taiwan uses DNA mapping to save endangered sharks

Smiling Shark

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan has begun testing DNA from shark fins sold in local markets in a bid to protect endangered species such as great whites and whale sharks, an official from the Fisheries Agency said on Wednesday. 

The efforts come as the island moves to restrict its shark fin industry, which environmental groups say accounts for the deaths of 73 million sharks each year across the world. 

Taiwanese fishermen are already barred while their vessels are at sea from removing shark fins, which are considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and often served in soup at special occasions such as weddings. 

Fisheries Agency spokesman Kevin Chung said the department had analysed samples of 100 fin products so far and checked them against DNA databanks of up to three-quarters of the world's approximately 400 shark species. 

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_802134.html

Picture Source: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/104_2012_web_projects/Jenna_Schmidt/Sharks.html

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Sabahans will be affected if sharks extinct – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has called on Sabahans to support and protect the population of sharks that are heading towards extinction to ensure the tourism industry would not be affected badly.

He said the tourism industry, particularly diving activity, is depending on the sharks as most of the divers want to see them in the natural habitat.

Therefore, there is a need to protect the sharks population, which is now only 20 per cent remaining in the Sabah waters.

He said diving activity is contributing to the growth of tourism in Sabah. Last year, it contributed a turnover of RM237 million to the tourism industry.

“Just imagine if the sharks’ population is heading towards extinction, divers will move to other countries and it will affect the tourism industry,” he said after launching the Imperial Gourmet Soup Challenge-2012 Sabah Protect Sharks, organized by JCI Tanjung Aru at Suria Sabah Shopping Complex here yesterday.

Masidi said the only industry that is totally owned by Sabahans is tourism as almost 90 per cent of the tourism operators and staff are Sabahans.

“If we look at the other industries such as plantation, 80 per cent of the workers are Indonesians and 70 per cent of the construction workers also foreigners.

“If the tourism industry is affected because of the sharks extinction, the first persons affected are local people. Therefore, I would like to urge the people of Sabah to protect and take care of welfare of the workers in Sabah by protecting sharks.

“It is wrong for us probably to protect the sharks so that the future of Sabahans can be protected and they can make money from the industry.

“It is more on whether we love shark fins more or we love Sabahans less,” he pointed out.

Masidi stressed that without sharks, he assured the diving industry will just collapse because the Indonesians and Southern Filipinos are coming up with it. It is a matter of time before they catch up with us in Sabah.

Commenting on the enforcement of the Fisheries Act to protect sharks, he said it had not been done yet as they had proposed to the related federal ministry to carry out amendment to the Act.

“We would ask for amendment to protect all types of sharks in Sabah. Even now, there is existing protection on certain type of sharks. But we want all the sharks to be protected in Sabah to ensure we can the save the population of sharks.”

On the Imperial Gourmet Soup Challenge to find an alternative to sharp fin soup, Masidi said it was carried out by JCI Tanjung Aru to encourage people to have an option in soup other than shark fin soup.

“Shark fin is considered a very prestigious soup and normally served during wedding ceremony. What they are trying to show today is that there is other alternative prestigious soup and the reason why they have this challenge is to prove to the people that there are other soups to impress the guests.

“The challenge is to educate the people not to eat shark fin soup as the sharks are heading towards extinction,” said the minister.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/07/sabahans-will-be-affected-if-sharks-extinct-masidi/#ixzz1utOPewUv

Photo Source: http://www.supportoursharks.com/listofsharks.htm

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Why shark numbers off Sabah down almost 100pc

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. 

Source: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=77983 

Photo Source:  http://www.fantom-xp.com/en_11__Shark_Swarm.html

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Association fully supports govt’s move to ban shark hunting in Sabah

TAWAU: The Semporna Resort Operators Association (SROA) fully supports the government’s decision to ban the sales of shark products as well as possession of sharks or sharks products in Sabah.

SROA president Robert Lo Ming Hoe urged the relevant authorities to seriously consider the association’s request to ban shark killing or possession of shark products in Sabah for the good of the tourism industry in the state.

“Under the Malaysian law, turtles already enjoy protection. In January this year, elephants joined the protected species. Sharks are equally important but do not enjoy any protection at all.

“Outside Sipadan, divers hardly see any sharks,” he said in a statement issued after the SROA committee meeting here yesterday.

According to Lo there were three important reasons why the association gave its full support for the government issues related to shark killings, including the fact that sharks are control agents for a healthy reef.

“Drop in shark population may cause an increase in small reef fishes and (this situation) may cause a drop in reef corals. Small reef fishes will over consume coral polyps, thus causing an imbalance of the reef structure,” Lo said.

According to Lo the second reason was that the sharks were one of the most sought after animals to see whilst diving because divers, when choosing dive destinations, rank sharks and mantas as the first attraction, ranking even higher than healthy coral reefs or turtles.

“(Sharks are the most sought) also because a shark caught for its fin is RM200 to the local fisherman in Semporna. The same shark if seen by divers underwater is worth US$50,000 (RM150,000) to the tourism industry,” Lo added. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/25/association-fully-supports-govts-move-to-ban-shark-hunting-in-sabah/#ixzz1tg5dOjsI

Photo Source: http://www.entertainmentwallpaper.com/download/10005826/

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2012 to mark protection of sharks in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: This year will mark the protection of sharks in Sabah even though the shark ban is not in place yet, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

“When the law is passed, we will then discuss with the restaurant owners about the grace period they need to clear their stocks,” he said.

“We need to do it now. We need to conserve the sharks for our next generation to enjoy. We cannot take all and leave nothing to our next generation in the name of profit. In the next decade, if we do not conserve the sharks now, there will be nothing left for the fishermen to catch and restaurant owners to serve. By then, it will be too late,” Masidi pointed out to the JCI Tanjung Aru.

JCI Tanjung Aru member Evonne Chong (immediate past president), organising chairman JCI member Aderick Chong and members met Masidi during a courtesy call recently.

Also present were the permanent secretary of Masidi’s ministry, Datuk Michael Emban, Datuk Irene Charuruks of Sabah Tourism Board and Sitti Damsal of Sri Pelancongan Sabah as well as Peter Dikili, Arthur Lee and Christopher who support the protection of sharks. JCI Tanjung Aru took this opportunity to thank Masidi for his determination and persistence in making the law to protect sharks happen in Sabah.

After initiating the ‘Say No To Shark Fins’ awareness programme in 2011, together with 54 chapters of JCI Malaysia and many conservation groups around the world, JCI Tanjung Aru strongly supports and commends the minister for his effort to see the ban through.

JCI Tanjung Aru briefed Masidi on the launch of 2012: Sabah Protects Sharks which will be held on May 6 in Suria Sabah. This event will mark that Sabah protects its sharks in 2012.

In conjunction with this event, there will be an ‘Imperial Gourmet Soup Challenge’, where the alternatives to shark fins soup will be judged and the most outstanding soup on that day will be recognised by the ministry.

Masidi and his ministry were also briefed on the Concert for the Sharks towards the end of 2012 to raise funds to enable efforts to reach out to schools throughout Malaysia, starting with Sabah, to educate the importance of shark conservation to the school children.

All contributions to this cause will only be used for the effort. It is a non-profitable event. Sponsors and advertisers are encouraged to step forward to contribute to this good cause. Contact JCI member Aderick Chong @ 0168306828

Both events are endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Culture.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/12/2012-to-mark-protection-of-sharks-in-sabah/#ixzz1sMPtQAYT

Green Sabah says: Completely agreed with Datuk Masidi Manjun that we need to protect the Sharks for the future generation, hopefully the laws will be approved soon so that this will become a nationwide movement.

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Harvesting of shark fins continues...

Harvesting of shark fins continues...

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is in the forefront of the move in this country to impose a ban on shark hunting and finning with State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun announcing the same last October. But fishermen and marine products traders near the Filipino market in Sinsuran either do not know or simply choose to ignore it.
A reader called up the Daily Express when he saw several hundred freshly-harvested sharks' fins being sun-dried on the traffic island along Lorong Gomantong, behind a marine products import and export business.
Masidi had said he would ask the Federal Attorney General to make the necessary amendments to the national Fisheries Act to enforce the law to protect Sabah's world class diving industry where tourists pay millions to see them off Sipadan and Mabul. Up to 100 million sharks are reportedly killed each year, compared to about five humans killed by shark attacks each year, marine scientists say.
Such a high annual kill rate has practically eliminated 80pc of all sharks from the oceans.
The campaign to end shark hunting and dropping shark fin soup from the menu is also observed by many nations today. There have recently been calls to substitute it with bird's nest soup which is more sustainable.

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=80826

Green Sabah says: It sucks that fishermen and marine traders refuses to cooperate with the Sabah government's efforts to protect our sharks, I suggest the government to impose a strict law on the ban of shark hunting so that more people will pay attention to it, a heavy fine and jail term should be a good enough 'incentive' to discourage them to continue shark hunting. 

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Shark hunting ban should come first, not sanctuary: Masidi

Shark hunting ban should come first, not sanctuary: Masidi

He said the proposed sanctuary would lack bite if legislation to fully ban shark hunting was not in place.Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said a ban on shark hunting should precede any plan to create a shark sanctuary off Sabah.
Thus, amendment to the Federal Fisheries Act are crucial toward implementing ban on shark hunting and finning to save the fast-depleting shark population in Sabah's waters.
"The idea of having the sanctuary is good, but it does not address the real issue.
"What good is a shark sanctuary if there are no laws to deter people from hunting shark?" he said.
Masidi said the sanctuary would only be able to protect sharks that stayed within its confines.
"It is an open sea and people will still hunt sharks outside the sanctuary.
The more effective method would be to totally ban shark hunting in Sabah," he added.
He said the draft for the proposed amendment to the Fisheries Act had already been prepared and the State was waiting to submit it to the Federal Cabinet, pending approval from the State Cabinet.
Masidi hoped the amendments would be approved, and added that the State was looking forward to implementing the ban as soon as possible.
More than 10,000 people have signed up for an online petition initiated by Sabah-based non-governmental organisation Borneo Conservancy last January to convince the state government to gazette the Semporna Shark Sanctuary.
The NGO is trying to push for the sanctuary, which covers 83 islands encompassing 1,001 dive sites including world-famous Sipadan, for the protection of sharks and other marine life in Semporna.


http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=80878

Green Sabah says: Hopefully he Shark Hunting ban will be fully implemented throughout Sabah so that we may have better protection of the nearly extinct sharks, the Sanctuary is a good idea actually, however our government has decided to put their priorities on the ban of shark hunting first, but I hope we could have the Shark Sanctuary which will cover the 83 islands such as Sipadan and Semporna. 

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Support a Semporna Shark Sanctuary and the Future of Our Oceans!

Semporna, Malaysia is home to many species of shark, from the extremely rare and elusive Borneo and hammerhead shark to the largest fish in the sea, the graceful whale shark.

A third of all shark species are nearly extinct. Some species of sharks such as the hammerhead have declined by up to 90% in the last 50 years. Sharks are an apex predator and have been around for over 400 million years and have maintained prey diversity and shaped the coral reef systems into what we see today. Without them the marine biodiversity as we know it would collapse.

Sharks are being systematically wiped out around the world and an extinction of many species is very likely in the coming years if current fishing trends and attitudes towards this beautiful and misunderstood creature don't change, and change fast. In Sabah and Semporna, many species are encountered on a daily basis. We are one of the lucky places that can still say that we can 'prevent' their decline instead of having to 'reintroduce and rehabilitate.'

By signing this petition in support of a Semporna Shark Sanctuary you are not only signing for the future of these incredible creatures for future generations, but securing the health of one of the most bio-diverse marine eco systems in the world and the future economy for the thousands of people who make a daily living from eco tourism in the area. Thanks for your support. 

Source: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-a-semporna-shark-sanctuary-and-the-future-of-our-oceans/

Green Sabah says: Do support this petition! Let us play our part in conserving the bio-diverse marine ecosystems. Simple action for positive results.

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Shangri-La joins fight against shark fin soup

Luxury hotel chain Shangri-La has announced it will stop serving shark fin at its 72 properties worldwide, as the campaign to protect the marine predators gains ground among Chinese consumers.

The Hong Kong-based group said it would cease serving shark fin in all of its restaurants as well as accepting new orders for shark fin products in banqueting with immediate effect, under a “sustainable seafood policy”.

Shark fin soup is viewed by many Asians as a delicacy, and is traditionally served at wedding parties and business banquets in Hong Kong, which handles around 50 per cent of the global shark fin trade.

Shangri-La said it would also phase out Bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass, which are under threat of extinction, at all restaurants within the year.

“The new policy is a continuation of Shangri-La’s journey towards environmental support,” the hotel chain said in a statement late yesterday.

“Shangri-La will continue to review and refine its overall programmes including environmental and sustainability issues.”
The announcement came two months after Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotels group said it would stop selling shark fin from this year, in a move hailed as a breakthrough for shark conservation.

Peninsula said the decision was made in view of the threat facing the global shark population, which scientists believe is essential to the overall health of the seas.
Shangri-La’s move also comes just before Chinese New Year, which falls on Monday, when shark fin will be in higher than normal demand for festive banquets throughout Asia.
About 73 million sharks are killed every year, with Hong Kong importing about 10,000 tonnes a year for the past decade, according to environmental group WWF.

More than 180 shark species were considered threatened in 2010, compared with only 15 in 1996.
WWF Hong Kong conservation programme officer Silvy Pun said the hotels were responding to falling demand for shark meat.
“Obviously this is a very positive development,” she told AFP today. “The hotels are contributing to shark conservation; they are leading the catering sector in Hong Kong to change.
“Their action reflects the market is changing and the falling demand for shark fin products. We are making a big step here so I urge other businesses to follow suit.”

The campaign has also received a boost in Singapore, after French retail giant Carrefour and the mainly ethnic Chinese city state’s largest supermarket chain, NTUC FairPrice, said this month they would no longer stock shark fin.

“More and more young couples have decided not to have shark fin on their wedding banquet menu,” Hong Kong marine conservation group Bloom project coordinator Stanley Shea said.

Other international hotel groups that continue to sell shark fin soup include Four Seasons, Hilton, Nikko and Regal, citing the traditional aspect of the expensive dish to Chinese customers.

But a Bloom survey last year showed that some 78 per cent of Hong Kong respondents considered it socially acceptable to leave shark fin soup off the menu at a wedding banquet. — AFP

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/food/article_food/shangri-la-joins-fight-against-shark-fin-soup/

Green Sabah says: This happens in Hong Kong, even the luxury hotel with 72 locations world wide has now joined us to fight against Shark Fin trade. Personally, I'm glad that such a big company has started to take the initiative to stop Shark Fin trades and this means that more companies will soon join in the fight. As a consumer, you can do your part by not consuming any shark dishes, starting from this Chinese New Year. Happy Chinese New Year for all those celebrating, have a shark-free year. 

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Praises on Sabah's move to ban shark trade

Sabah's bold decision to restrict the shark fin trade next year moved an individual so much that he decided to write a thank you letter, and got more than a dozen concerned Malaysians to put their signatures on it.
Datuk Michelle Yeoh is one of those who think that Sabah has done the right thing, and gladly put her signature on a letter of thanks drafted by Kirk Lee, founder of the Save Our Sharks From A Bowl Of Soup movement.

The letter, a copy of which was made available to The Star, was sent to the state government on Monday and was addressed to its Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
 

Other than Yeoh, other names on the letter include former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, Petaling Jaya Mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, model Amber Chia, actor Patrick Teoh, producer Nell Ng and deejay Xandria Ooi.

A swimming instructor, Lee told The Star that the letter was meant as a reminder to Sabah that the world is watching whether the state will make good its pledge by amending its relevant laws to prohibit the capture of sharks and trading of their fins in the state.

A recreational diver, Lee described himself as a “typical Chinese who loves good food”, until he saw a video that stunned him on how his bowl of shark fin soup was made.
Like Lee, Ooi's “conversion” was no less dramatic.“I was in high school when I found out how shark fins were harvested and it completely bewildered me as to why humans would go to great lengths of cruelty just to serve a dish in a restaurant.“If we think about it logically, there is absolutely no reason to consume shark fins, other than the old adage of prestige',” she said.

Anti-shark fin activists have been notching up many victories recently, with the revered Peninsula Hotel chain announcing last month that it would stop serving the dish from next year.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/14/nation/10088438&sec=nation

Green Sabah says: Good job to the Sabah State government for their initiatives to ban Shark Fin trade, they have done the right thing to help preserve our sharks to prevent them from going extinct. Its great to see that there are many people within the country who also supported this move. Bravo.

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Sabah First in Asia to ban Shark Trade

Campaign heats up to save millions of sharks from being killed for food

By Oliver Majaham
Pictures by Ille Tugimin

 

Sharks evolved 400m years ago to keep oceans healthy. As predators, they rule the underwater world. But they are losing a battle against man. The latest score: Sharks have killed 13 people so far this year. Man kills 73m of them every year largely for their fins which are turned into a culinary delicacy in Asia. Now environmentalists are stepping up a worldwide campaign to stop people from eating them. And Sabah may become the first in Asia to ban shark hunting next year.

Shark finning in Taiwain. Picture: Pew Environmental Group

The world trade in shark fins is about 2.5 billion ringgit ($800m) a year. There are no figures for Sabah’s. But divers have complained that they are seeing fewer sharks in Layang Layang, off Labuan Island, home to the badly endangered hammerhead sharks. Other shark haunts are Lankayan Island, Roach Reef and Sipadan Island off Sabah’s east coast.

Hazel Oakley

Hazel Oakley of the Green Connection, an aquarium and science centre in Kota Kinabalu, says 98% of sharks have been killed in South-East Asia.

Masidi Manjun, Sabah’s minister of tourism, environment and culture, now wants laws to ban shark hunting and finning next year to save the north Borneo island state’s diving and tourism industry. The diving business is worth 195m ringgit a year and gives jobs to 2,000 people. The Sabah government has already banned shark fin soup, the most popular and prized delicacy, from its luncheons and dinners.

The government will add sharks to its list of protected endangered animals and mammals under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997. A wildlife department official says this will mean that sharks cannot be hunted, killed, finned or traded. This law also protects the rare Sumatran rhinoceros and the orang-utans.

But Masidi wants the federal government to place sharks on the list of protected species under the Fisheries Act of 1985 that will outlaw shark hunting and finning in Sabah waters. This is to avoid legal disputes since federal laws override state laws.

Shark fins are dried in the sun. Picture: Pew Environmental Group

“It makes economic sense to us to ban shark hunting and finning to protect our tourism industry,” he said at the launch of a campaign against shark fin soup in Kota Kinabalu last month.

“It is in keeping with sustainable tourism. If we continue to eat sharks, sooner or later they will disappear from this part of the world. Our priority is to save whatever remaining sharks in Sabah waters. The sooner we get it done the better.”

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed 233 shark species on its Red List. Twelve are “critically endangered” and 126 of them risk extinction.

Taiwan has just announced that it will ban shark finning next year, starting in September. But it stops short of banning shark catching and a lucrative shark trade. Critics say sharks can still be sold in Taiwan minus the fins. The difficulty is proving who sliced off the fins, they say. About 4m sharks are caught off Taiwan waters yearly, making the island the biggest of the top ten shark hunting countries which include America, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan and Spain.

So, Malaysia looks likely to be the first Asian country to ban the shark trade once it protects them by law. 

Insight Sabah

Posted on 02-11-2011 03:21 pm

Source: http://insightsabah.gov.my/article/read/1509 

Green Sabah says: I'm proud to hear that Sabah may be the first to ban shark trade in Asia, sharks have been widely hunted for their fins and flesh throughout the world and they are slowly going towards extinction. If we don't do something about it now, soon Sharks will die out and this will upset the ecosystem balance. Hope that more countries will start banning shark hunting in Asia and maybe whale hunting too.

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