Best of our wild blogs: 16 Feb 16

Valentine’s Day Herp Walk
Herpetological Society of Singapore

Why are Barramundi Asia fish farm workers harvesting wildlife at Pulau Semakau?
wild shores of singapore

International Macaque Day - 16th March
Lost in the Jungle

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Cross Island Line debate misses elephant in room

Christopher Tan Straits Times 16 Feb 16;

The proposed alignment of the new Cross Island Line, which could run through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, has sparked heated debate.

While we must do what we can to preserve our natural heritage, we should not shy away from taking hard decisions, if necessary. That has been the pragmatism Singapore prides itself on.

But is building an MRT line under Singapore's largest nature reserve necessary?

It is not.

Not only that, it is actually counter-productive to have a mass rapid transit line traversing an unpopulated, forested area.

The basic tenet of transport infrastructure like an MRT line must be for it to serve the masses. Going by this principle alone, the proposed alignment of the Cross Island Line is flawed.

By going through a tract of primary and secondary forests, the Land Transport Authority would not only do irreparable damage to a pristine habitat nestling around our reservoirs, but it will also be rendering up to 4km of the 50km rail project void of patronage and revenue.

The Nature Society's suggestion of an alternative route is sound, even if its primary consideration is to prevent the destruction of indigenous flora and fauna.

The route calls for the line to loop around the southern edges of the nature reserve. This actually will allow it to serve residents in Thomson, Lornie and Adam roads, not to mention the massive development planned for Bukit Brown.

By cutting through a tract of primary and secondary forests, LTA would not only do irreparable damage to a pristine habitat, but it will also be rendering up to 4km of the 50km rail project void of patronage and revenue.
By cutting through a tract of primary and secondary forests, LTA would not only do irreparable damage to a pristine habitat, but it will also be rendering up to 4km of the 50km rail project void of patronage and revenue. ST FILE PHOTO
Align it a bit farther south, and it can even serve Balestier, a bustling hub that does not have any MRT planned as yet.

Admittedly, a diversion will cost more than going straight through the forest. But then again, think of the larger benefit. The higher ridership and revenue that come with a line that serves populated areas instead of an uninhabited nature reserve will pay for the higher cost over the lifetime of the line. So, let's not be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
The LTA says the alternative route would entail longer travelling time, higher cost, more land acquisition, and possibly bigger engineering challenges associated with going through a more built-up area. These reasons hold little merit when compared with the benefits of serving a larger community.

And if travelling time were such a huge concern, surely we should look to things such as speedier trains, better synchronicity between train and platform doors, and a more sophisticated signalling system?

Admittedly, a diversion will cost more than going straight through the forest. But then again, think of the larger benefit. The higher ridership and revenue that come with a line that serves populated areas instead of an uninhabited nature reserve will pay for the higher cost over the lifetime of the line. So, let's not be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

As for land acquisition, that is something that is unavoidable whenever we build a new rail line. The Singapore Government has never been afraid to acquire land for the larger good. And since it is now paying market rate for properties, the pain of those affected is much less than before.

The same rationale goes for any noise, dust and inconvenience that arise from a major infrastructural project. You cannot make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Lastly, engineering challenges. The LTA has never shied from engineering challenges. In fact, from some of the tasks it has undertaken, it would seem that LTA's engineers love challenges.

They have diverted canals, moved rivers, excavated below viaducts, built tunnels that are just 70cm away from an existing operating tunnel, diverted a stretch of road more than 20 times, and built retaining walls that go 70m into the ground.

Heck, they have even built a 10-lane highway under the sea. And for the Thomson-East Coast Line, they are freezing the earth to prevent water seepage while constructing the Marina Bay station.

So, the proposal to have an MRT line bisecting our nature reserve has little to do with a lack of engineering confidence. It has even less to do with saving time or risking more land acquisitions. It may have something to do with keeping construction costs down, but that would be tragic, if true.

But for the LTA to even suggest an alignment that goes right past a population centre seems to suggest a failure on the part of planners to see the forest for the trees.


What about a third option?
Straits Times Forum 23 Feb 16;

It is heartening that the Government will take into account the diverse concerns of stakeholders in deciding the alignment of the Cross Island MRT Line ("Both possible alignments for CRL will be studied" by Mr Chew Men Leong of the Land Transport Authority; yesterday).

However, the Government should perhaps reconsider the entire alignment of the Cross Island Line (CRL), given the massive impact that this would have on the environment and on the lives of residents who could have their properties acquired.

I have noticed that if the 9km skirting alignment were to be adopted, the CRL could duplicate the Thomson-East Coast Line for some distance along Upper Thomson Road.

This may result in stations constructed along the skirting alignment being underutilised.

Given the duplications, perhaps the LTA should evaluate whether the alignment of the entire CRL should be changed to ensure that ridership will not be compromised, and that the environmental and social impacts of the construction of the CRL are reduced to a minimum.

For instance, areas such as Balestier, eastern Toa Payoh and Serangoon Gardens are still not reached by MRT, but could potentially fall within a new alignment of the CRL.

A possible realignment of the CRL through these areas may benefit more commuters while averting the impact of construction on the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Dennis Chan Hoi Yim


What about running MRT line above ground?
Straits Times Forum 22 Feb 16;

So far, all the estimates and costs of the alignment of the upcoming Cross Island MRT Line centre on an underground line ("$2b extra cost if MRT line skirts reserve"; Feb 22).

How about a feasibility study of an above-ground line along Lornie Road? Minimal land acquisition would be required.

With creative planning, the Cross Island Line might even provide passengers with a window to nature whenever it travels along Lornie Road.


Tan Lee Kheng (Ms)


Potential gains for residents along skirting alignment
Straits Times Forum 25 Feb 16;

Losing one's cherished home is never easy ("Cross Island Line sparks residents' fears"; Sunday).

Residents living along the proposed alternative Cross Island Line alignment skirting the Central Catchment Nature Reserve have understandably raised concerns that they may lose their residence or suffer disturbance if the MRT line is rerouted through their estate.

Balancing the painful individual loss of some against the common gain of many requires sensitivity and careful consideration.

This issue raises questions about whether a comparatively limited group of residents should be able to decide what is in our national interest.

After all, Singapore's natural heritage and our green lungs belong to all Singaporeans, and not just to estate owners along the alternative skirting alignment.

In addition, we must ponder why we are concerned only about residents potentially affected along the skirting alignment.

What about other residents who may be affected along the entire length of the line?

The Land Transport Authority has extensive experience building MRT lines through populated areas over the years, and I trust it will apply its best efforts to minimise loss and impact.

Not everyone along the skirting alignment will need to be uprooted.

A fair segment of the line will pass through spaces that are unpopulated.

Considering that new MRT lines usually result in a 10 per cent to 15 per cent increase in housing prices, most residents along the skirting alignment could stand to gain, not just monetarily, but also in getting easy access to public transport.

Conserving our green umbrella, which is our last bastion to fight the serious impact of climate change, such as rising temperatures, is a priceless gain for now and the future.

Teresa Teo Guttensohn (Ms)

Related links
Love our MacRitchie Forest: walks, talks and petition. Also on facebook.

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Dengue cases fall further but still high, says NEA

The number of dengue cases reported in Singapore fell to 421 last week, 104 cases fewer than the previous week, according to latest figures published on the National Environment Agency website.
Channel NewsAsia 16 Feb 16;

SINGAPORE: A total of 421 dengue cases were reported in the week ending Feb 13, 104 cases fewer than the previous week but still “much higher than usual” for this period of the year, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on its website.

A total of 3,454 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore since Jan 3. Two people - a 47-year-old man living in Marsiling Rise and a 67-year-old man living in Toa Payoh - have died of the disease so far this year.

Tampines remains the biggest cluster with 278 cases since the start of the year, including two reported in the past two weeks. The second-biggest cluster is in Yishun with 103 cases, including 10 in the past fortnight.

NEA warned that there has been an increase in the Aedes mosquito population, with the warmer-than-usual weather shortening the breeding and maturation cycles of the mosquitoes, as well as the incubation periods for the dengue virus.

Additionally, the proportion of dengue cases due to the DENV-2 serotype has increased and now accounts for more than two-thirds of all dengue cases serotyped in Singapore, the agency said. Previously, the DENV-1 serotype accounted for most of the dengue cases in Singapore since March 2013.

“This change in the main circulating dengue virus and the increase in mosquito population due to warmer weather may be contributing to the spike in dengue cases. Immediate measures need to be taken by all stakeholders to suppress the Aedes mosquito population,” NEA said.

With the majority of breeding sites found in homes, and the top breeding spots being domestic containers and flower pot plates and trays, NEA urged homeowners who purchased plants for Chinese New Year to ensure that the plants do not become breeding habitats for mosquitoes.

Those planning to go on vacation should also mosquito-proof their homes before travelling, it added.

- CNA/cy

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Malaysia: Strong winds, rough sea until Friday

BERNAMA New Straits Times 16 Feb 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong Northeasterly winds of 40 to 50km per hour and waves rising up to 3.5 metres high are expected to occur in several areas off the country’s coast from Wednesday to Friday.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department in a statement tonight, said the areas affected are the waters off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, East Johor, Sarawak, Sabah (Interior, West Coast and Kudat) and Labuan.

Similar weather conditions are expected to occur over Samui, Tioman, Bunguran, Layang-Layang, Reef South, Kuching and Palawan.

The situation is also expected off Condore and Reef North from tomorrow until Friday.

“This condition of strong winds and rough seas is dangerous to small boats recreational sea activities and sea sports,” said the statement. -- Bernama

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Malaysia: Injured tiger rescued in Tapah

The Star 15 Feb 16;

TAPAH: A tiger has been rescued from a trap set for wild boar in a plantation here.

The 17-year-old animal, weighing about 200kg, injured its legs, said Tapah police chief ASP Noor Shahariman Ngah.

He said an orang asli man identified as Waslostri Usop, 38, had set the trap to catch wild boar in Ladang Eden, Batu 10, Jalan Pahang.

He said at about 4.30pm Sunday, Waslostri lodged a police report saying that a tiger was caught in his trap.

ASP Noor Shahariman said a team of 25 people from the police, the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, set out to rescue the tiger.

As the team could not fire tranquilliser darts at that time, it resumed the operation at 8am Monday.

The animal was released from the trap after eight darts were fired, he said.

The tiger was then brought to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre and the Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre for treatment.

This is the second incident involving a tiger in the country in about two weeks.

On Feb 5, a pregnant tigress was killed after being hit by a vehicle as it crossed the East Coast Expressway 2 in Pahang.

It is believed that there are only about 300 tigers left in the wild in Malaysia. – Bernama

Big cat caught in wild boar trap
The Star 16 Feb 16;

TAPAH: An injured tiger has been rescued from a wild boar trap in a plantation here.

An orang asli man Waslostri Usop, 38, was shocked to find the tiger in his trap at Ladang Eden, Batu 10, Jalan Pahang, on Sunday and alerted the police.

Tapah police chief ASP Noor Shahariman Ngah said a team of 25 from the police, Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, responded.

But they had to delay the rescue operation till yesterday because it was already dark when they reached the site.

Perak Perhilitan director Rozidan Mohd Yassin said the rescuers fired a tranquilliser dart at the animal, which was injured on its legs.

He added that the animal was between 14 and 17 years old, and weighed about 170kg.

The is the second incident involving a tiger in the country in about a fortnight.

On Feb 5, a pregnant tiger was killed after it was hit by a vehicle as it crossed the East Coast Expressway 2 in Pahang.

It is believed that there are only about 300 tigers left in the wild in Malaysia.

In Kuala Nerus, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Perhilitan was ready to work with the Malaysian Highway Authority to do a detailed study for the construction of wildlife crossings over highways.

He said the ministry wanted to build the crossings, estimated to cost from RM3mil to RM4mil.

“The Government, through Perhilitan, has decided to create wildlife corridors where animals can move more freely to find food and shelter,” he said after visiting a coastal management project at Pantai Tok Jembal here.

He said wildlife was at risk due to the construction of roads, dams and hydro-electric power plants, and this resulted in elephants and tigers being forced to migrate in search of food and shelter.

New home for rescued tiger
IVAN LOH The Star 17 Feb 16;

SUNGKAI: The National Wildlife Rescue Centre has a new resident tiger.

The injured animal – now named Yeop Tapah – rescued near Kampung Orang Asli Batu 10 is set to be resettled as it is too dangerous to be released back into the wild after it was caught in a trap set for wild boars.

Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Rozidan Mohd Yassin said the male tiger, aged between 14 and 17, was too dangerous to be released back into the wild following its encounter with humans.

“It will attack humans. The tiger will remain at the centre for breeding and conservation purposes,” Rozidan told reporters after visiting the tiger here.

He said the tiger, weighing about 170kg, had hurt its right front paw.

“The paw is swollen but it is not serious. The tiger is healthy and behaving aggressively due to the new surrounding.

“It is best that we don’t further stress the animal as it may injure itself again,” he added.

He said the tiger was ensnared at its roaming area between the Royal Belum and Bukit Fraser range.

“It was within its habitat range on the boundaries between Perak, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. We estimate there are between 400 and 450 tigers in peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

Rozidan said Perhilitan was mulling action against the orang asli who had set the trap.

“We recorded statements from the orang asli yesterday. It is an offence to lay traps to catch animals in the jungles,” he said.

“Those found having a snare trap can be fined RM100,000 or jailed three years or both.

“Those found guilty of laying the trap can be fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and jailed two years.

“We have urged the people, especially the orang asli, to stop laying these traps.

“The orang asli usually lay these traps and wait for about a week. If they do not catch anything, they will just leave them there.

“Any animals trapped later could die of stress and hunger.”


Brushes with tigers lead to concerns over extinction
The Star 19 Feb 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: The crossing of paths by man and tiger in two instances this month in Terengganu and Perak has put the spotlight on the plight of the Malayan tiger.

Scientifically known as panthera tigris jacksoni, the Malayan tiger has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

No wonder there was much concern when a pregnant tigress died after being rammed by a MPV on the East Coast Expressway 2 in Terengganu on Feb 6.

On Feb 14, a tiger was caught in a wild boar trap near Tapah, Perak.

Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department deputy director-general 1 Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said a study undertaken two years ago revealed the existence of between 250 and 340 tigers in three major areas – the Belum-Temengor Tropical Forest in Perak, the National Park in Pahang and the Endau-Rompin Tropical Forest in Johor.

“This does not reflect the total tiger population in the country because there are jungles where no study has been made on these animals.”

Abdul Kadir said that between 2010 and last year, the department recorded 28 cases of tigers having been snared, killed, smuggled and people having tiger parts in their possession. — Bernama

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Indonesia safe from Zika virus

Libertina Widyamurti Ambari Antara 15 Feb 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is safe from the Zika virus, according to a statement by Indonesian Ambassador in Seoul, South Korea, John A. Prasetio received by ANTARA News here on Monday.

"Based on the confirmation received from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, there has been no case of Zika virus in Indonesia throughout this year," the ambassador noted.

The information from the ministry is in line with a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which excludes Indonesia from the list of countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission.

Earlier, certain Korean media had reported that a Zika virus case was found in Jambi in early 2015.

Ambassador Prasetio pointed out that it was incorrect to presume that the Zika virus had spread in Indonesia.

In fact, the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and the Research Center of the Indonesian Ministry of Health had reaffirmed the absence of cases involving the Zika virus in 2016.

In the past few weeks, the Indonesian government has implemented several measures to prevent the entry of the virus into the country, such as by raising alertness at its health offices across all airports and seaports in Indonesia.
(Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/O001)

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Indonesia: Residents brace for the worst as peak rainy season approaches

Apriadi Gunawan and Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post 15 Feb 16;

Flood victims and residents in flood-prone regions will not be able to breathe a sigh of relief anytime soon, as authorities say this year’s rainy season will only pass its peak early next month.

In North Sumatra’s provincial capital of Medan, the local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is calling on residents to remain cautious of floods until the end of February, as strong rainfall is predicted for the next two weeks.

Medan BPBD head Hanna Lore Simanjuntak said on Sunday that her institution had informed all district and subdistrict heads in the municipality about the flood risk.

“We expect them to pass the information on to residents, so that they can prepare necessary anticipative measures,” she said.

Among the flood-prone areas in Medan are the districts of Medan Maimun, Medan Baru and Medan Petisah, all located in the southern part of the city. The BPBD, Hanna said, had prepared two rubber boats to help evacuate residents should floods hit these areas.

Meanwhile in West Sumatra, flooding in 10 regencies of the province last week affected more than 30,000 people. Most of the victims, especially those in the three worst-hit regencies of Limapuluh Kota, South Solok and Pasaman, have not yet received sufficient logistical and medical assistance.

West Sumatra BPBD emergency and logistic division head R. Pagar Negara said his office had asked the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to send a helicopter to distribute emergency aid to 300 affected families in South Mapat Tunggul district, Pasaman regency.

“Landslides have blocked the road leading to the region in 20 spots, making it impossible for us to send the aid overland,” he said.

In Indonesia, the rainy season normally starts in October and the dry season in April.

However, after a prolonged dry season triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon, the rainy season finally arrived in many parts of the country in December and has since intensified, triggering floods and landslides in several provinces, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and Central Java, over the past weeks.

Last week, BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains had hit 166 regions across the archipelago during the first five weeks of the year, claiming a total of 43 lives and affecting more than 75,000 people.

The delay to the start of the rainy season, Sutopo said, would make it reach its peak in February, a couple of months later than the normal schedule.

The head of the Indonesian Geologists Association’s (IAGI) West Sumatra branch, Ade Edward, attributed floods that recently hit nine regions in the province to geological factors.

“The problem lies with the lack of spatial planning in flood-prone areas; that such areas have been developed into residential or office compounds, which explains why floods affect more and more people here,” Ade said.

The affected regions, he added, had been recurrently hit by floods and flash floods. Some even experienced landslides.

He said floods struck at least once every two years in those regions, while major floods occurred once in five years.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment’s (Walhi) West Sumatra executive director, Uslaini, blamed environmental damage in a number of riverbank areas for the recent floods and landslides.

She urged the provincial administration to evaluate mining business licenses and apply moratoriums on new licenses to avoid further destruction in the areas.

“Otherwise, disasters will always hit West Sumatra,” she said.


Heavy Rains Pose Risk of Flooding in Jakarta and Surrounding Areas: BNPB
Shenny Fierdha Chumaira Jakarta Globe 15 Feb 16;

Jakarta. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has warned that there is an increased probability of flooding in Jakarta and surrounding areas towards the latter part of February, amid the peak of the rainy season.

"According to weather forecasts with regard to expected rainfall, it is highly likely that flooding may occur in Jakarta in the third to fourth week of February. The public is therefore reminded to remain alert at all times," BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement on Sunday (14/02).

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that heavy rains would fall in Jakarta and its surrounding cities of Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi between Monday and Wednesday this week.

"From the dynamic development of atmospheric conditions, there are indications of potential heavy rainfall occurring over the next few days, particularly in the Greater Jakarta area," BMKG head Hary Tirto Djatmiko said in a statement on Sunday.

"We urge all [government] agencies and members of the community to remain alert of heavy rains that are expected from Monday afternoon, and which may increase by Tuesday morning. Similarly, on the next day [Wednesday], the potential for heavy rainfall of a similar intensity remains high," Hary said.

Meanwhile, Sutopo said the government and the Jakarta chapter of the BPBD have taken precautionary measures to anticipate flooding in the capital.

"The BNPB has prepared a quick-response emergency team equipped to be mobilized at any time," he said.

While Sunday's heavy rain, he said, did not cause any significant flooding in the capital, it did result in some roads being partially inundated.

He said the storm-water drainage systems in many parts of the city were not adequate to deal with a sudden downpour, causing many public roads to become inundated. However, for now, Jakarta has not yet experienced any major flooding, he said.

Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road Traffic Back to Normal

Heavy rains that occurred in some areas surrounding Jakarta over the weekend have caused traffic chaos on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road.

On Sunday night, traffic from Karawang, an industrial city to the east of the capital, was backed up over a distance of more than 16 kilometers when some sections of the toll road were up to 30 centimeter under water in some areas.

"Flood water spread from the Cibatu toll gate to the Deltamas toll gate in Cikarang, Bekasi," West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono explained on Sunday night.

Iwan Abrianto, a spokesman for Jasa Marga, the state toll road operator that operates the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, said on Monday the situation was under control and that the toll road operator has been making join efforts with the state water management company and property developers near the toll road to improve water management and drainage.

With additional reporting by Mikael Niman, Suara Pembaruan

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New global strategy to save sharks and rays

WWF 15 Feb 16;

A group of international conservation organizations launched a new strategy today to combat the decline of sharks and closely related rays, while warning that the rays are even more threatened and less protected than the higher profile sharks.

The call for greater inclusion of rays in conservation action plans is part of “Global Priorities for Conserving Sharks and Rays: A 2015-2025 Strategy,” released today in conjunction with a Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting on shark conservation currently underway in San José, Costa Rica.

While calling on countries across the globe to take urgently needed actions to conserve and rebuild vulnerable populations of both sharks and rays, the 10-year strategy document emphasizes that, as a group, rays – including skates, stingrays, sawfishes, guitarfishes and devil rays – should receive as much attention and investment as their better known relatives, the sharks.

The approximately 650 species of rays include shark-like rays, such as the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish and Brazilian guitarfish.

“Overfishing due to under-management is the single most important threat to sharks and rays,” said WCS Sharks and Rays Coordinator Amie Bräutigam. “Improvements in fisheries management and expansion of conservation efforts – for rays in particular – form a major part of this new strategy.”

The global strategy was produced on the basis of extensive data analysis and synthesis by experts from Shark Advocates International, Shark Trust, TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and WWF, with technical guidance and input from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Shark Specialist Group. These organizations have partnered to implement this strategy through the Global Sharks and Rays Initiative.

“We are eager to share our global shark and ray conservation strategy with governments, and to discuss concrete steps toward the many shared goals that are ripe for action,” said Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates International. “Although the challenges are daunting and many questions remain, the tools and resources are already sufficient to meet CMS obligations for protecting many endangered rays and limit the catch of many heavily fished sharks.”

Along with highlighting the need for more attention to rays, the strategy emphasizes that science-based limits on shark and ray fishing and trade are urgently needed to end overfishing and ensure sustainability.

“Some shark and ray populations are capable of supporting fisheries in the long term,” said Ali Hood, the Shark Trust’s Director of Conservation. “Sustainable use is a pragmatic approach to conservation, which values the natural world, the importance of livelihoods, the cultural significance of products, and the need to minimize waste through full utilization. It also requires a genuine commitment to science-based management of populations – a key objective of this global ten-year strategy.”

Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC’s Fisheries Programme Leader, cautioned: “Shark and ray protection measures are only as good as their actual implementation. Ensuring the traceability of fisheries products along the trade chain is essential to assess the effectiveness of any regulations and ultimately in bringing about real conservation benefits for the species affected.”

For shark and ray species listed under the Convention of Migratory Species, the authors have called on member countries to ensure that several key steps are taken in line with convention obligations, including: establishing strict national protections for all five endangered sawfish species and all manta and devil rays; and adopting national and regional fishing limits for heavily-fished, highly migratory sharks, such as mako, hammerhead, and thresher sharks.

Demand for shark fin in Asia has long been considered the major driver for the overfishing of sharks, but the strategy highlights recent findings that market demand for shark and ray meat is also significant, and on the rise.

“The volumes of shark and ray meat traded internationally have doubled since the 1990s and are now considered as important as shark fin in driving overfishing of these animals,” noted Andy Cornish, Shark and Ray Initiative Leader of WWF International. “Driving major reductions in the global demand for shark and ray fins and meat, the vast majority of which are currently from unsustainable and untraceable sources, is an integral part of the strategy.”

The strategy also emphasizes that nearly half of the world’s shark and ray species have been classified by the IUCN as “Data Deficient,” meaning that information is insufficient to assess the health of their populations, which can further hinder conservation action.

“Our analyses for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveal a quarter of the world’s cartilaginous fishes as at risk of extinction. A major shift in effort is needed to prevent the extinction of 70 most endangered species – sawfishes, guitarfishes, wedgefishes, freshwater sharks and rays – and to clarify the conservation status and needs of the 600 Data Deficient and newly discovered species," said IUCN SSG co-chairs Nick Dulvy and Colin Simpfendorfer.

The Global Sharks and Rays Initiative is supported in part by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.


Conservation groups call for more protection for rays as well as sharks in new 10-year strategy
TRAFFIC 15 Feb 16;
* A quarter of shark and ray species estimated to be threatened with extinction
* Rays even more imperiled than sharks
* Overfishing driven as much by market demand for meat as for fins
* Science-based limits on fishing and trade urgently needed
* Experts join forces to address species’ plight

San José, Costa Rica, 15th February 2016—A group of experts from international conservation organizations is announcing a new strategy for combating the decline of sharks and closely related rays, while warning that the rays are even more threatened and less protected than the higher profile sharks.

The call for greater inclusion of rays in conservation action plans is part of Global Priorities for Conserving Sharks and Rays: A 2015-2025 Strategy (PDF, 4.5 MB), released today in conjunction with a Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting on shark conservation currently underway in San José, Costa Rica.

While calling on countries across the globe to take urgently needed actions to conserve and rebuild vulnerable populations of both sharks and rays, the 10-year strategy document emphasizes that, as a group, rays – including skates, stingrays, sawfishes, guitarfishes and devil rays – should receive as much attention and investment as their better known relatives, the sharks. The approximately 650 species of rays include shark-like rays such as the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish and Brazilian guitarfish.

“Overfishing due to under-management is the single most important threat to sharks and rays,” said WCS Sharks and Rays Coordinator Amie Bräutigam. “Improvements in fisheries management and expansion of conservation efforts – for rays in particular – form a major part of this new strategy.”

The global strategy was produced on the basis of extensive data analysis and synthesis by experts from Shark Advocates International, Shark Trust, TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and WWF, with technical guidance and input from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Shark Specialist Group. These organizations have partnered to implement this strategy through the Global Sharks and Rays Initiative.

“We are eager to share our global shark and ray conservation strategy with governments, and to discuss concrete steps toward the many shared goals that are ripe for action,” said Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates International. “Although the challenges are daunting and many questions remain, the tools and resources are already sufficient to meet CMS obligations for protecting many endangered rays and limit the catch of many heavily fished sharks.”

Along with highlighting the need for more attention to rays, the strategy emphasizes that science-based limits on shark and ray fishing and trade are urgently needed to end overfishing and ensure sustainability.

“Some shark and ray populations are capable of supporting fisheries in the long term,” said Ali Hood, the Shark Trust’s Director of Conservation. “Sustainable use is a pragmatic approach to conservation, which values the natural world, the importance of livelihoods, the cultural significance of products, and the need to minimize waste through full utilization. It also requires a genuine commitment to science-based management of populations – a key objective of this global ten-year strategy.”

Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC’s Fisheries Programme Leader, cautioned: “Shark and ray protection measures are only as good as their actual implementation. Ensuring the traceability of fisheries products along the trade chain is essential to assess the effectiveness of any regulations and ultimately in bringing about real conservation benefits for the species affected.”

For shark and ray species listed under the Convention of Migratory Species, the authors have called on member countries to ensure that several key steps are taken in line with Convention obligations, including: establishing strict national protections for all five endangered sawfish species and all manta and devil rays; and adopting national and regional fishing limits for heavily-fished, highly migratory sharks, such as mako, hammerhead, and thresher sharks.

Demand for shark fin in Asia has long been considered the major driver for the overfishing of sharks, but the strategy highlights recent findings that market demand for shark and ray meat is also significant, and on the rise.

“The volumes of shark and ray meat traded internationally have doubled since the 1990s and are now considered as important as shark fin in driving overfishing of these animals,” noted Andy Cornish, Shark and Ray Initiative Leader of WWF International. “Driving major reductions in the global demand for shark and ray fins and meat, the vast majority of which are currently from unsustainable and untraceable sources, is an integral part of the strategy.”

The strategy also emphasizes that nearly half of the world’s shark and ray species have been classified by the IUCN as “Data Deficient,” meaning that information is insufficient to assess the health of their populations, which can further hinder conservation action.

“Our analyses for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveal a quarter of the world’s cartilaginous fishes as at risk of extinction. A major shift in effort is needed to prevent the extinction of 70 most endangered species – sawfishes, guitarfishes, wedgefishes, freshwater sharks and rays – and to clarify the conservation status and needs of the 600 Data Deficient and newly discovered species," said IUCN SSG co-chairs Nick Dulvy and Colin Simpfendorfer.

The Global Sharks and Rays Initiative is supported in part by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

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