Straits Times Forum 4 Mar 11;
MANY marine conservation groups profess to champion the concept of sustainable seafood but actually focus primarily on the issue of shark's fin ('Shark's fin: Marine group rebuts trader's claim' by Project: FIN; March 1).
The shark is only one among millions of fish species in the seas and oceans. Granted, the number of sharks has declined but the same goes for all other commercial species.
Researchers have logged the decline in sharks, but how does that relate to the decline in the total fish population?
If the fish population declines by 90 per cent, does it not follow that the shark population will drop as well?
A report last year ('Overfishing emptying the seas in South-east Asia'; Nov 11) noted that there was 10 times less fish in the Gulf of Thailand in 1995 than in 1965 while Malaysia experienced an 80 per cent to 90 per cent plunge.
The cod fishery in the North Sea collapsed over a decade ago. The giant bluefin schools found off the east coast of the United States are history.
Apparently, only 10 per cent of the big fish are left.
While it is undeniable that the shark's fin trade is partly responsible for the decline in the shark population, the problem cannot be seen in isolation and must be part of a holistic approach that looks at overall fish populations.
Even if the shark's fin trade is stopped, will that save the sharks? If the seas continue to be pillaged of fish, they too will disappear. Yet, certain groups that promote sustainability of the sea focus mainly on shark's fin.
Could these groups be swayed emotionally by gruesome videos showing live finning? What proportion of shark's fin is derived from live finning?
Perhaps measures could be taken to have shark's fin labelled to differentiate those finned after death, in the manner of 'dolphin safe' tuna meat.
The focus on shark sustainability alone is akin to guarding a particular tree in the forest against loggers, while the rest of the forest around it is burning. One may save that tree from the loggers, but unless one douses the fire, that tree too will eventually perish.
If one is serious about sustainability, one must look at the bigger picture.
The decline in overall marine resources will soon lead to the end of sharks, even if they are not caught for their fins.
Steven Lauw
Why we should focus on protecting sharks
Straits Times Forum 11 Mar 11;
THE keen focus on shark conservation is a result of the critical role sharks play as the key species of the ocean ('Don't miss the fishes for the shark's fin' by Mr Steven Lauw; last Friday). Their decimation would create an adverse domino effect on the rest of the marine ecosystem.
Scallop fisheries thrived in America's east coast for over 100 years. However, when the area faced a decline in sharks, the population of cownose rays, which fall prey to sharks, spiked and affected the population of commercially valuable scallops, causing a decline in catches.
The fear of sharks also causes their prey to move to different parts of the ocean, which is important to the health of our oceans.
For example, tiger sharks, which feed on turtles, contribute to the health of seagrass beds, which act as nurseries for eggs and newborns, and as food and shelter for many marine animals. In the absence of tiger sharks, turtles spend all their time grazing at the same locations. The presence of tiger sharks causes the turtles to swim away, hence preventing overgrazing at the same areas and allowing other marine life to flourish.
An Oceana report stated that shark finning decimates between 26 million and 73 million sharks annually. The issue isn't just about cruelty but waste, as this practice uses only between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of the shark.
In countries where conservation measures are lacking, it is common for fishermen to maximise profitability of each fishing trip by discarding lower-value carcasses to make space for higher-value fins. Thus, shark finning isn't limited to the question of whether the animal is disposed of in a human way.
Mr Lauw is right when he suggested that we should not try and save one tree instead of the entire forest. However, what if decimating that single tree prompts the destruction of the forest?
Shark and marine conservation are not mutually exclusive. They complement each other.
Teng Siew Jiuan (Ms)
Why Asian conservationists are tackling shark finning
Straits Times Forum 12 Mar 11;
MR STEVEN Lauw reinforced the need to take a holistic approach to slow down the rapid depletion of world fish stocks, including sharks, in order to protect our marine resources ('Don't miss the fishes for the shark's fin'; last Friday).
It should not be a case of emphasising any one species over another, but safeguarding all of our marine heritage for future generations.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimates that nearly 80 per cent of world fish stocks are being exploited at or beyond sustainable levels.
Overfishing is the main cause for this state, driven by our insatiable demand for seafood. In particular, the demand for shark's fin is exceptionally high in Asia and is therefore an issue raised by many conservation groups in Singapore and the region.
Amy Ho (Ms)
Managing Director
WWF Singapore
