11 pelagic sharks listed as endangered

The IUCN has listed 11 pelagic sharks and rays as threatened with extinction. Pelagic species are traditionally seen as resilient, this study shatters this illusion

Grey reef shark. Not part of this study but also increasingly under pressure from overfishing

Fuller story can be found
Click HERE

Use of Shark products in cosmetics

In an article titled "Unilever ends the use of shark products in its cosmetics" Oceana also point the way to consumers needing to be better informed of what osmetic firms are using in their cosmetics.

Quotation from Oceana
“Oceana is satisfied to see that some of the biggest names in the cosmetics industry are recognizing their corporate social responsibilities and choosing not to contribute to the extinction of these important animals,” said Rebecca Greenberg, a marine scientist with Oceana and coordinator of the shark campaign. “We encourage people to become educated and responsible consumers by asking cosmetic retailers about squalene sources and directing their purchases towards companies that have never used this animal-based product in cosmetics or that have made the decision to replace it.”

Actually I was completely ignorant of this use. But not anymore.

Full article can be found here.
http://www.oceana.org/europe/media/press-releases/press_release/0/746/

WWF-HK starts a shark fin campaign

WWF Hong Kong has launched a shark fin campaign on the 3rd December, aimed at highlighting the

1. Most shark fisheries are poorly managed and unsustainable.
2. Huge wastage, 90-95% of the shark is disposed of after the fins are cut off.
3. 20% of the 546 shark species on the IUCN redlist are threatened with extinction.

Consumers should stop eating shark fin and restaurants should stop selling it.

The full story can be found Click HERE

Malaysian ministry bans shark's fin soup

Just received this:

"Ministry bans shark's fin soup - Malaysiakini.com ( http://malaysiakini.com/ ) Sep 15, 07 4:16am

Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has struck off shark's fin soup from the menus at official functions, to help conserve the species, a report said today.

Minister Azmi Khalid told the official Bernama news agency that the ministry had made the commitment to the Malaysian Nature Society.

"By refraining from the consumption of shark's fin soup, it is hoped that the ministry would contribute in one way or another towards the current conservation efforts for sharks species," he said.

"Their demise would start off a domino effect, which at each stage could result in the depletion or overpopulation of other fish and marine species leading to an imbalance in the marine ecosystem," he said.

On preservation drive

The society's Selangor branch Marine Group is on a drive to encourage individuals and organisations to stop serving the delicacy at corporate functions.
The marine group had embarked on a series of activities and programmes to promote awareness on the plight of sharks and their importance to the marine ecosystem.

Malaysia's population is dominated by Muslim Malays, but there are also large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities."

What can be done to raise the awareness of this and to try to get other governments and ministries in the region follow suit...?

Dead blacktip shark in Hong Kong marine park

A juvenile blacktip shark (note : Not blacktip reef shark, description HERE) was caught in a fishermen's net in Hoi Ha Wan marine park.

Check out the following story:
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/environment/070830/html/070830en04003.htm

This has opened up the debate about whether fishermen should be allowed to fish in marine parks. The HK government does allow a limited number of fishing permits to be issued annually.

I don't think any fishing should be allowed in designated marine parks.

FAO plan for conservation and management of sharks

CORRECTION

Carrying on with the theme of Sharks and Shark fishing, The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, ratified an "Action plan for the conservation and Management of Sharks'.

On the website of the FAO the only countries that have put together and published a plan for sustainable shark fisheries are Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia, and Ecuador, as well as a Mediterranean wide plan.

However the action plan is voluntary and not legally binding. Bad news is that the Ecuadorian government in early August has lifted the ban on sales of shark fins. This is politically motivated move by the president to court fishermen prior to a up coming election. (source: guardian.co.uk)

The European Union are also guilty of killing huge numbers of sharks and recent attempts to list the Porbeagle and Spiny Dogfish onto CITES was not ratified. These species are consumed in Europe at alarming rates with the fins being sold to China.

All divers appreciate and love to see sharks, and they are a vital part of the marine ecology, isn't it time more was done to protect and enforce international legislation and protection of sharks.

FYI. The FAO website lists the aims of a national shark-plan should be to:

1. Ensure that shark catches from directed and non-directed fisheries are sustainable
   
2. Assess threats to shark populations, determine and protect critical habitats and implement harvesting strategies consistent with the principles of biological sustainability and rational long-term economic use
   
3. Identify and provide special attention, in particular to vulnerable or threatened shark stocks
   
4. Improve and develop frameworks for establishing and co-ordinating effective consultation involving all stakeholders in research, management and educational initiatives within and between States
   
5. Minimize unutilized incidental catches of sharks
   
6. Contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function
   
7. Minimize waste and discards from shark catches in accordance with article 7.2.2.(g) of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (for example, requiring the retention of sharks from which fins are removed)
   
8. Encourage full use of dead sharks
   
9. Facilitate improved species-specific catch and landings data and monitoring of shark catches
   
10. Facilitate the identification and reporting of species-specific biological and trade data

Sharkwater - the movie

A critically acclaimed film about the plight of sharks is currently been released in North America.

Have a look at the website and trailer by clicking http://www.sharkwater.com/ the film does put across a very important message.

Unfortunately the film is not yet due for release in Asia as the producer :
"We would love to have the film release in China and Hong Kong but unfortunately we have seen some resistance"

I am currently seeing whether there are ways that this can be released in Hong Kong and China but I have limited influence or contacts in the cinema/film distribution industry. Anyone have any ideas?

Tiger Shark Feeding video clip - Scary....!!

Clip from "You Tube" showing a shark feed dive in Fiji. Hand feeding a large (3.5 - 4 metre) and very fat Tiger Shark seems absolutely crazy to me. Also check out the worlds fattest Grey Reef's and a one 'normal' non obese Silver Tip. Fish soup as well..

Tiger Shark and more - You Tube clip

Question is: "is shark feeding a good idea"

I think there are two opposing arguments regarding Shark Feed Diving

1. Shark Feeds increase encounters with Sharks and can aid in their preservation, by raising awareness and reducing the mystery around sharks.
2. In other parts of the world shark feeding has been blamed for the rise in attacks in South Africa. They can become habituated to humans and associate them with food.

I think controlled and well managed shark feeding probably has more plus points that negative.

But for myself, I prefer to see natural behaviour and those unexpected encounters and will vere away from shark feed dives.