Malaysia: Entangled reef shark dies in marine park

Koi Kye Lee New Straits Times 22 Jul 12;

PUTRAJAYA: A BLACKTIP reef shark which was found dead, entangled in a fishing net at a marine park in Terengganu, has irked divers and environmentalists.

The 1.2m-long adult shark was trapped in a fisherman's net at the Black Coral Garden diving site, off Pulau Lima, Redang.

A diver, who only wanted to be known as T.C. Lim, said he came across the disturbing sight while diving on Friday.

"It is the desire of all divers to see sharks on a dive, but that particular experience was definitely one to forget.

"More importantly, how can there be commercial fishing going on at a marine park?

"This is rather widespread as we have seen evidence of nets underwater at several other diving sites, too," he told the New Sunday Times yesterday.

Lim said, as a result of the nets, many large pelagic fish were now either fewer or missing.

"I have been diving in Redang since 2001, and I no longer see fish such as the barramundi, cods, giant groupers, large snappers and rays.

"Fishing boats are also often sighted and this shows that there is a lack of enforcement by the ministry and marine parks unit."

It is important, said Lim, for all the main stakeholders -- especially the tourism and environment and natural resources ministries, marine parks units and resort operators -- to ensure that there was effective enforcement.

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) communications head Andrew Sebastian said the society was concerned with the discovery of the netting within the country's marine parks.

"MNS is calling on all the relevant authorities, especially the Fisheries Department and marine parks unit, to take immediate action to monitor and enforce the protection of our marine parks.

"If the agencies in question do not have the capacity and resources to undertake this exercise, we call upon the Federal Government to provide assistance immediately."

Sebastian added that local resort operators and stakeholders on all marine park islands should cooperate and collaborate with the authorities and media to submit or provide information and be vigilant on all illegal activities carried out within the marine parks.

A blacktip reef shark can grow to a maximum length of about 1.8m.

Such sharks are shy creatures. They prefer to avoid humans and are not considered dangerous as they feed on small fish.