FWD: (MV) Shark Fins and Turtle Eggs

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

Written, photo and video reports are coming out from reliable people in the

Maldives and visitors who are concerned with continued sharkfinning (as well

as sale of turtle eggs and other products).

 

From correspondence with the Ministry of Tourism, it appears that shark

finning is banned on the tourist atolls, but not on non-tourist atolls.

This, of course, is less than ideal, as sharks are unlikely to respect

tourist/ non tourist boundaries. The sad result is a steady sharkfin supply

from the Maldives.

 

(Similarly, sea turtles are protected, but the trade of sea turtle eggs and

shell products appears to be allowed).

 

Emails of concern have been sent by people worldwide to the Ministry of

Tourism. To date, these emails have met with denial of any problem, in some

cases polite denial, in others, antagonistic.

 

The Maldives is a wonderful place, with abundant marine resources. The

authorities should be commended for taking measure to protect marine life.

Further steps could be taken, however, to increase the effectiveness of the

measures in place.

 

Any comments can be sent to:

 

Agisa Abdulla

Deputy Director

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board

mtpb

 

 

 

 

October 2, 2000

Shark finned alive in the Maldives

 

Today at 3pm, whilst diving Lily Beach Channel, Ari Atoll, I found a

handsome 11/2 m Gray Reef lying on the bottom at 25m. Closer inspection

revealed that the animal was tied with a noose around its caudal peduncle

(narrow section of tail) to a small rock. Its pelvic, pectoral, 1st and 2ns

dorsal fins and half its tail fins are missing from its sleek cadaver. It is

apparent that they were sliced off while the animal is still alive.

 

In 1997, we found shark fins in stacks of 1 1/2 metre high in back street

shops in Male, the capital island of the Maldives. Interviews with the

traders exposed their buyers are from Singapore. After extensive lobbying

with diving agencies, dive schools the Maldives authority announced

protection for sharks in all the tourist atolls in 1998. Shark fining became

illegal. This year April, a few divemasters working on safari boats emailed

me that the fishermen were seen fishing for sharks at dive sites such as

Fish Head and Maaya Thila. I requested for photographic evident to which

sadly I acquired today.

 

The Shark fins trade MUST BE STOPPED; country such as Maldives and Indonesia

may impose great environmental law to protect their ecological environment.

Due to the expanse of water in the Maldives and Indonesia, effective

policing is difficult. Resources are also limited. As I have said many times

before, to protect sharks, we must first destroy the shark fins trade.

Simple economic principle, as long as there is the demand, especially

lucrative dollars from traders in Singapore, the fishermen will continue to

fish for sharks; don't blame the fishermen, he is poor, he is possibly

living from hand to mouth, his income a mere fraction compared to the

traders and restaurateurs in Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

If the conservationists, divers, NGOS, medias are serious about protecting

sharks they must boycott all restaurants that promote gourmet shark fins

soup; they must lobby to respective custom department to make import of

shark fins illegal, perhaps punishable with extensive fine and imprisonment.

Likewise, media that claimed to be supportive of protecting the ocean

environment should regularly published a black list of restaurants serving

shark fins soup. If the so call RSPCA is supposedly set up to protect

cruelty to animal, they should also take a stand lobbying for total ban in

the shark fins trade. Otherwise, all conservation effort is futile,

preaching only to the converts. Meanwhile divers, nature and animal lovers,

I call on you to go up to someone you see consuming shark fins soup and tell

him/her loudly " SHAME ON YOU ! "

 

www.michaelaw.com

www.OceanNEnvironment.com.au

Fax Number and Voice Mail: 1- 206-202-3388

PO Box 2138 Carlindford Court

NSW 2118, Australia