Shark's fin and the threat to ecosystem

Straits Times 25 Jan 12;

THE letter by Mr Tan Keng Tat ('Supermarts should beware banning shark's fin for the wrong reason'; Jan 14) stated that 'the claim that one-third of the 400 shark species are endangered has no merit'.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is considered the global authority on wildlife population status, consisting of 1,000 government and non-governmental organisation members, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

The IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG) consists of the world's top shark scientists. They are objective and their goal is to provide the most accurate data possible. They report that 32 per cent of open ocean shark species are threatened with extinction.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), an international treaty, has 175 member countries, and addresses international trade, not fishing bans or restrictions.

Moreover, with countries that are party to Cites, the goal is very often to protect the country's own interests.

Not coincidentally, the countries that lead these arguments do not have finning bans and do have high levels of trade in shark's fin.

Sharks are the apex predators of the ocean ecosystem, thus considered by scientists to be 'keystone' species, meaning that removing them causes the whole structure to collapse.

For this reason, the prospect of a food chain minus its apex predators may mean the end of the line for many more species, and the collapse of important fish and shellfish fisheries.

It is very difficult to tell whether detached fins are from sharks that are legally fished or illegally finned. Without the whole shark, the only way to find out is through expensive DNA testing.

Shark's fins are culled from sharks caught in fishing activity all over the world. Since shark-finning is conducted without regard to species, age or gender, it is no surprise that even endangered species are being slaughtered.

For example, DNA sequencing last year of a sampling of fins for sale in San Francisco revealed that endangered species, such as the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), are sold.

The random sampling of fins by the California Academy of Sciences found that one-half of the sampled fins were from threatened species.

Chu Yuet Ming (Ms)

Supermarts should beware banning shark's fin for the wrong reason
Straits Times Forum 14 Jan 12;

I HOPE that the decision by supermarkets to stop selling shark's fin is based on facts and not misconceptions or pressure from Western wildlife activists, which may ironically backfire and hurt sharks even more ('Carrefour to stop selling shark's fin too'; last Saturday).

Any move to choke off the supply of a commodity will cause prices to rise exponentially, inviting a horde of bounty hunters to target sharks, which are now caught accidentally by the industrial-scale, longline fisheries in the West.

The claim that one-third of the 400 shark species are endangered has no merit.

Under the laws of Singapore, the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Russia, China and Japan, no shark is listed as endangered, and likewise under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (Cites), whose members represent 175 governments.

It is reprehensible for activists to imply that only Asians consume sharks.

The American fishery industry increased the quota of a species of shark, the spiny dogfish, to 20 million pounds (9.1 million kg) last year, a 33 per cent spike over that in 2010, and about 44.8 million pounds of spiny dogfish are eaten in the European Union annually.

Most of this shark meat in Britain ends up in fish and chips, yet no one protests.

Why the double standards?

Activists also cite 'sustainability' as the raison d'etre to save sharks and the environment but the total tuna catch in 2008 exceeded that of sharks by 800 per cent.

So will our socially responsible supermarket chains stop selling canned tuna too?

Tan Keng Tat


Way to go
Straits Times Forum 14 Jan 12;

'While I have great respect for Asian traditions, ending shark's fin sales in FairPrice supermarkets is a step in the right direction.'

MR COLIN YOUNG, New South Wales, Australia: 'My heartfelt thanks to FairPrice for ending the sale of shark's fin in its supermarkets ('Outrage over posting on supplier's webpage'; Jan 6). This barbaric practice needs to end worldwide. While I have great respect for Asian eating habits and traditions, ending shark's fin sales in FairPrice supermarkets is a step in the right direction and FairPrice should be congratulated.'