The Star 10 Mar 12;
KOTA KINABALU: The killing of sharks in the vicinity of the world's premier diving haven of Sipadan is setting off alarm bells among conservationists who want immediate safeguards in place to protect the fast diminishing species.
International and local divers have filmed dead sharks with their fins removed while diving around popular spots around Sipadan and Mabul and other reefs and islands in the east coast of Sabah.
Tourists continue to see sharks being finned along the beach near the village in Mabul Island and the carcasses thrown back into the sea.
“This is not good for Sipadan's international image,” Sabah-based non-governmental organisation Borneo Conservancy headed by Daniel Doughty said.
Borneo Conservancy, which is pushing for the creation of the Semporna Shark Sanctuary, is hoping the state government will put in place a sanctuary ahead of Sabah's plan to ban total shark hunting.
Conservationists in Semporna said their ground teams had witnessed the finning of sharks “once every two to three days” over the last 12 months.
“With an average of more than 50 sharks seen dead each day, we estimate that the number could be much higher as we don't see sharks being finned,” said a conservationist who declined to be named.
The proponents of a sanctuary said dive tourists had shown videos of dead sharks being dumped on reefs in Mabul.
“Sadly, more tourists are seeing these images for real on Mabul Island and in Semporna and they have complained about the lack of protection for sharks and marine life in this world famous dive destination,” said the conservationist.
Doughty said there was a need for the state to have a shark sanctuary in Semporna as an immediate measure while waiting for changes to federal laws to facilitate a ban on shark hunting in Sabah waters.
“The shark population is depleting; we must act now,” he said, adding that an online petition for the setting up of the sanctuary had gained nearly 12,000 signatures from at least 40 organisations involved in shark and marine conservation worldwide.
'Govt needs to ban shark hunting'
New Straits Times 12 Mar 12;
KOTA KINABALU: Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for Federal Government legislation to ban shark hunting in Malaysian waters.
Lee said this in the wake of reports about conservationists from Sabah protesting about the rampant inhumane killing and finning of sharks in Sabah waters.
He said the confirmed reports of sharks being finned on the beach and thrown back into the sea in the vicinity of the world's premier diving haven of Sipadan was most disgusting and nauseating.
"Such inhumane acts must be stopped. Divers have filmed dead sharks with their fins removed while diving around popular spots around Sipadan and Mabul.
"This must be looked into seriously by the relevant authorities. I agree with the view expressed by Sabah-based NGO Borneo Conservancy that this most inhumane killing of sharks is not good for Sipadan's international image," he said in a statement, here yesterday.
With this in view, Lee said it was time for authorities in Sabah to take appropriate action to deal with the problem. Bernama
Inhumane ‘finning’ acts must be stopped
The Star 12 Mar 12;
I AM perturbed by “Sharks are fin-ished, unless...” (The Star, March 10). Confirmed reports of the killing of sharks or sharks being finned on the beach and thrown back into the sea in the vicinity of the world’s premier diving haven of Sipadan is most disgusting and nauseating. Such inhumane acts must be stopped.
The Star’s report that divers have filmed dead sharks with their fins removed while diving in popular spots around Sipadan and Mabul must be looked into seriously by the relevant authorities.
I agree with the view expressed by Sabah-based NGO Borneo Conservancy that this most inhumane killing of sharks is not good for Sipadan’s international image.
What is most disturbing is that, according to conservationists in Sabah, their people had witnessed the finning of sharks “once every two to three days” over the last 12 months, with an average of more than 50 sharks seen dead each day.
With this in view, it is time for the authorities concerned to take appropriate action to deal with the problem.
While the Sabah authorities can look into providing a safe sanctuary for sharks and other marine life, the Federal Government should look into introducing new legislation to provide a ban on shark hunting in Sabah and Malaysia waters.
The shark population is depleting and we must do something to protect the sharks and other marine life in the interest of marine conservation and eco-tourism.
LEE LAM THYE,
Kuala Lumpur.
