Malaysia: Hard for all states to ban shark hunting

The Star 19 Dec 12;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s ban against shark hunting is laudable but may not be feasible for the rest of the country for now, said Deputy Agri-culture and Agro-based Ind­ustry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

He said this was because such a ban would involve various authorities, unlike that in Sabah, where the State Tourism, Culture and Envi­ron­ment Ministry had announced the move.

“We cannot make such a decision on our own. We need to discuss with the other agencies, including the Natu­ral Resources and Envi­ronment Ministry,” he said after opening an international symposium on the development of integrated pest management for sustainable agriculture in Asia and Africa yesterday.

“It will also involve presenting papers in the Cabinet before any decision is taken,” added Chua.

Sabah’s ban against the hunting of sharks for their fins showed the state’s commitment in environmental protection and conservation efforts, he said.

However, Chua said it was still a personal choice of consumers in the peninsula when it came to eating shark’s fin.

Earlier, Chua said sustainable pest management and control systems were necessary for the longevity of the agricultural industry.