Immediate steps to totally protect sharks – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Immediate steps must be taken to implement a total protection of shark species in Sabah waters, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said.

Masidi pointed out that more and more countries are changing their laws to protect sharks and Sabah must start doing the same.

“If we are not careful and we take too much time, we may realize one day that there will be nothing for us to protect,” he said, when asked to comment on the latest development with the government’s efforts to ban the catching and selling of sharks in the state.

Masidi was asked the question after photographs of finned sharks being sold in the Sandakan fish market was posted in the social media.

“We are still waiting for the federal authorities and the ministry involved to make some amendments to the law. This has been over a year now but we are still pursuing the matter. We will have to look at other options, creating a sanctuary is one of the options to convince people that we are serious about banning finning, catching and selling of sharks,” he said.

Masidi also pointed out that the diving industry contributes a huge amount to the state’s tourism receipts as last year alone, it earned Sabah about RM260 million.

Most of the divers come to Sabah for its underwater treasures and most of them want to see the sharks, he said.

“I personally have nothing against restaurants but we must see what is the comparative benefits of both. As I have said again and again, the diving industry is one that most locals don’t mind working in unlike the plantation where 80 per cent are foreigners.

“So you are not just talking about taking care of the sharks but also the locals who are employed in the industry. I think that is a bigger issue,” he said.

On another issue, Masidi disclosed that there are plans to develop Berhala Island in Sandakan so that it can attract more foreign tourists, especially those from China.

“Tourists from China love to visit beaches and islands, which is why they choose to holiday in the state capital. So by developing Berhala Island, they have an alternative place to visit and that can further boost Sandakan’s tourism industry.

“We are also looking at resuming direct flights between Sandakan and Hong Kong,” he said.

Source: Borneo Post