25Sep

Around 1,000 people join in awareness race

KOTA KINABALU: Around 1,000 people participated in the 2017 Shark Runner organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) to raise awareness on the negative impact of hunting for shark fins. JCI President, Lenny Yap said that the run is part of their campaign to stop cruelty towards sharks. It was the first run of its kind in Malaysia where were participants dressed with “shark fins” and being hunted along the route. “For the first time participants will able to experience the dreadful feeling of sharks being hunted by fisherman, and at the same time, to instill awareness to protect the shark population,” she said. “Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the marine food chain and prey population and without them, the existing marine ecosystem will be unbalanced.” A number of activities have been implemented by JCI to spread and instill greater awareness among locals to refrain from consuming shark fin soup and stop shark hunting. Among them was “Say No to Shark Fin Soup” (SNTSFS) Drawing and Coloring Contest. The run was officiated by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) City Environmental Health Department director Robert Lipon who represented Mayor, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai. The awareness run was organized by JCI Tanjung Aru with the collaboration of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI), Grab Car and Sabah Amateur Radio Society (SARS). The 5.3km run was held at Tanjung Lipat, here. The event also saw various activities such as lucky draw, shark walk and Judging of Best Costume, Zumba session, and a magic show. Source : New Sabah Times
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19Sep

Amendments proposed to turn Sabah marine parks into shark sanctuaries

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry’s legal department is in the midst of preparing amendments to the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984 in a move to turn all six marine parks in the state into shark sanctuaries. Its minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, said amendments to the enactment would be tabled at the state assembly once the review was finalised. The marine parks are Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Tun Mustapha Park, Pulau Tiga Park, Turtle Islands Park and Sipadan Island Park. “There are certain requirements to amend certain provisions of the law, which we hope to table in this coming assembly session. We have had some positive achievements in trying to get our sharks fully protected. “Even the federal authorities are now more engaging in (Sabah’s) request for amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 that would allow total banning of shark fishing for certain category of species. “Sabah has a lot of sharks and we are trying to protect all species. This, of course, requires a bit of adjustment to the Fisheries Act so we can harmonise the law relating to the protection of sharks in both federal and state laws,” he said. Masidi was speaking at a press conference on the Alternative To Shark Fin Soup Exhibition, which will be held on Nov 11 at Imago Mall, here. Present were Sabah Shark Protection Association (SSPA) president Aderick Chong, Imago acting marketing manager Rustam Ahmad, Go Seafood Sdn Bhd chief executive officer and executive director, Mikhail Razak Harris and Chua Hua Beng. Masidi said he had held informal discussions with leaders from Kuala Lumpur and noted that they had begun to understand the situation Sabah was facing and pursuing with regards to shark conservation. “I am also happy to note that the public are now quick to respond when they see photos of slaughtered sharks in the market. This shows Sabahans are now aware of the need to protect marine species. “Sometimes, this issue crops up and I get a message on Facebook, saying ‘Masidi, where are you?’. Well, I’m still in KK and I’m still the minister but (jokes aside) there is no law that gives authority to the minister to take action against this. “There is no law to allow us to stop shark fishing. So, I hope the people understand this and if indeed there is a law (banning shark fishing), I will be in the forefront to ensure it does not happen,” he said. Currently, the Sabah Fisheries Department has listed whale sharks and sawfish (ray species) as protected and threatened under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 and Fisheries Act 1985. The department has proposed another four shark and two ray species, which have been listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species 2008, to be categorised as threatened under the Fisheries Act. The sharks are Sphyrna mokarran (great hammerhead shark), Sphyrna zygaena (smooth hammerhead shark), Eusphyra blochii (winghead shark) and the Carcharhinus longimanus (oceanic whitetip shark). The rays are Manta birostris (oceanic manta) and Manta alfredi (reef manta). As the diving industry is one of Sabah’s active segments in spurring the state’s economy, Masidi said shark conservation must be emphasised to prevent species extinction such as what has befallen the Sumatran rhinoceros. “I’m personally happy that SSPA is continuously educating the public. Ensuring total protection (of sharks) lies in our attitude. The laws can only be effective if there is strict enforcement, but our attitude determines whether our sharks survive.” Meanwhile, Chong said the upcoming Alternative To Shark Fin Soup Exhibition focused on creating awareness and introducing substitutes for the dish to the public. He said a similar event was organised in 2012 when many restaurants and hotels were still serving shark fin soup. “However, this time around some (restaurants and hotels) have givenup, or rather struck off their menus, and this year we are stepping up our event with the support of Go Seafood, which produces Royal Empura products. “The Empura fish is a sustainable resource, prestigious and expensive compared to shark fins. So we have a good alternative this year, together with birds nest. “We have put up a really good fight against shark fin soup and now we have a ‘contender’. Hopefully, there will be more restaurants participating in the exhibition,” he said. Source: New Straits Times
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01Aug

Live sharks to be the stars at Manukan Aquarium Centre

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks have taken the initiative to upgrade a building at Pulau Manukan here into an aquarium centre to educate the public about marine biodiversity. Its director, Dr Jamili Nais, said the centre was part of the government’s efforts in shark conservation. “The main attraction at the aquarium will be live sharks, including blacktip reef sharks. “This is in line with the government’s recent announcement that marine parks will serve as shark sanctuaries,” he said during the soft launch of the new attraction in Pulau Manukan here recently. These sanctuaries will be set up at more than two million hectares in marine parks, including Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park here, Tun Mustapha Marine Park in Kudat, and Tun Sakaran Marine Park in Semporna. The state government is in favour of a ban on shark finning as the species contributed significantly to the tourism industry. On average, 55,000 divers come to Sabah yearly and 80 per cent of them came to see live sharks in the sea. The year-long activity contributed more than RM300 million in tourism receipts. Jamili said the centre would be opened to the public in September, adding that the entrance fee would be waived for a year. The 0.01ha centre, which costs RM100,000, was mostly built by the staff of Sabah Parks. Source: The New Strait Times
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20Jul

Sabah to Protect Another Four Shark and Two Ray Species

KOTA KINABALU: Four shark and two ray species are to be protected as endangered under federal fisheries regulations. The state government, through its Fisheries Department, has proposed that the great hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, winghead shark, oceanic whitetip shark, oceanic manta ray and reef manta ray be covered. According to the Sabah Shark Protection Association (SSPA) advocacy group, the move to include the six species under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 was a major step forward in the conservation of marine life. SSPA president Aderick Chong said it was important to protect the species, which were being fished in large numbers. The current list of protected marine species includes whale sharks and sawfish, as well as several species of dolphin, whale, dugong and clam. Under the regulations, no person shall fish for, disturb, harass, catch, kill, take, possess, sell, buy, export or transport any of the specified endangered species without written permission from the director-general of fisheries.
Chong said inclusion of the six, listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in Malaysian federal regulations should be finalised quickly. “We are keen to continue our support for federal and state agencies to list these species within this year. “We were present at the multi-stakeholder consultation to draw up this list and view this as a positive step to obtain protection for sharks and rays in Sabah waters,” he said in a statement. The SSPA also hoped the scalloped hammerhead, silky shark, three species of thresher shark and nine species of devil ray – all listed in Appendix II of CITES – will be given similar protection. “These species always feature high on the wishlist of divers, particularly scalloped hammerheads and devil rays. Many divers come to Sabah in the hope of encountering one of these incredible animals,” Chong said. “Sadly, they are being landed on a daily basis so we need the Government to act now before they disappear forever.”
He said SSPA wants to work with the authorities to identify other species that might benefit from such protection, and on the enforcement of laws that regulate activities related to sharks and rays. Based on Fisheries Department data, Sabah waters have 48 out of the 70 shark species in Malaysia and 65 out of 85 ray species. Source: TheStar
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