no protection for threatened sharks...

[samaka]

I'm not sure where to post this thread so I just shove it in here...

This is a bit of a disapointment for all us who likes sharks...

One shark species wins U.N. protection while others fail | Green Business | Reuters

.......a.......

 

[Wantonmien]

I'm not sure where to post this thread so I just shove it in here...

This is a bit of a disapointment for all us who likes sharks...

One shark species wins U.N. protection while others fail | Green Business | Reuters

.......a.......

Samaka,

I very nearly posted that link and the earlier news story from Doha where basically rejection of new protection measures was announced (did they say main reason they would not stop shark fining as it would affect fishing villages ??), and it's criminal. There are a few links to efforts in reducing shark fining in the shark forum on Scubaboard, but they are a bit buried and it is an issue that should be made a bit more prominent, with a more input from divers prepared to shake a few trees and make a few noises to try and increase efforts to get the fining reduced or eventually stopped.

I also watched a documentary last week on "Animal Planet" where they had worked out that numerous small fishing boats were catching and fining, then transferring fins to mother ships and finally processing them through Costa Rica and Taiwan for export to China, Hong Kong, Thailand - the videos from the Taiwan factory made my skin creep, thousands upon thousands of fins drying out, (the documentary showing as a last clip approx 1000 fins from Great Whites waiting for a customer) - the fins having been butchered off in oceans around the globe.

As I'm living here in Taiwan (and relatively new to diving and feeling awed seeing sharks close to me in the water) I really feel like I should be making more noise here in Taiwan, to stop or reduce the trade, raise public awareness etc etc, and would welcome ideas or contacts through here or pm's on organisations or efforts being made and where I can play a part.

Safe diving, cheers

 

[Garrobo]

The world population and their officials are either too corrupt to care or too ignorant to know that finning, along with other over-fishing problems, is decimating the oceans' stocks of fishes. In most cases, where agencies and groups are trying to correct these atrocities, they are just pi$$ing in the wind. Too bad.

 

[drbill]

approximately 1,000 fins from great whites? That's truly sad. As long as there is big $$$ (or whatever currency you prefer) in it, it will continue... legally or otherwise. Such a shame that we are destroying the long-term health of our waters and our planet for short-term greed.

 

[tarponchik]

Sharks are killed for the vanity of the rich Asians. This is bad not only for those divers who like sharks, but removing the top predator can lead to disastrous results for the whole ecosystem, as, for example, removing the wolves in US did.

 

[Lindzi258]

People can't see out there own bubble and realize that the marine ecosystem effects everything on the planet.

 

[Louie]

Portbeagle sharks aren't safe yet. Because the margin for the Portbeagle vote was so small, it may be overturned on Thursday.

The CITES meeting has been very disappointing for those of us concerned with the welfare of sharks and other marine life. It's now crucial to turn up the heat and act on all levels - on consumer demand in the consuming nations, on our lawmakers and politicians and on businesses that profit from the trade and sale of vulnerable and threatened species.

 

[Wantonmien]

Sharks are killed for the vanity of the rich Asians. This is bad not only for those divers who like sharks, but removing the top predator can lead to disastrous results for the whole ecosystem, as, for example, removing the wolves in US did.

---

Problem is in Asia (and I've worked China and Taiwan), it is not just the 'rich' with the shark fin soup, it's a sad fact it is available everywhere - I actually went into a Hong Kong restaurant for a quick cheap lunch three days ago, and there on the menu "Sharks Fin Soup" for the about the same cost as a bowl of noodles.

As I said in last post, I'm here in Taiwan and have been for a few years, but I'd really like to get to know of any national or international movements making efforts to get shark fin soup removed from menus of all types of restaurants for rich and all, and how I can play my part locally. Non Asian divers in Taiwan are pretty few and far between, but there are a few of us here that would love to get Taiwan out of the market.

For info, see attached link that I previously posted in this forum shark forum

A Huge Win for Sharks in Taiwan | Humane Society International

 

[tarponchik]

---
Problem is in Asia (and I've worked China and Taiwan), it is not just the 'rich' with the shark fin soup, it's a sad fact it is available everywhere - I actually went into a Hong Kong restaurant for a quick cheap lunch three days ago, and there on the menu "Sharks Fin Soup" for the about the same cost as a bowl of noodles.

Most sources claim the price is much higher. Check this out, for example Shark Fin Soup: An Eco-Catastrophe? - SFGate

The cheap stuff can be an immitation, like the "immitation crab meat" sold in US, or a fake like "grouper" served in some Florida restaurants Florida restaurants fight off fake grouper - USATODAY.com

 

[Louie]

It's more bad news from CITES.

The Portbeagle decision has been reversed and so EVERY PROPOSAL for marine species protection HAS BEEN REJECTED.

News and Views on the Environment, Oceans and Conservation | Sea Forever