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Regulated shark trade may save endangered species
By Bradnee Chambers |
March 27, 2013, Wednesday
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IN the past sharks have been better known for their deadly attacks on surfers or as the main delicacy in shark fin soup, but what is now making headlines in the science sections of newspapers around the world is that prolonged over-fishing of sharks has led to the lowest shark populations ever seen.
A key international meeting in Thailand has taken steps that may finally put a stop to this.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took a landmark decision this month to regulate the trade of some of the key species used in shark fin soup - something it has failed to do twice in the past.
The CITES meeting has already seen a welcome focus on wildlife crime, with stepped up efforts to reverse the dramatic increase in the poaching of African elephants and rhinos.
Importance of sharks
At first glance the importance of sharks might not be as readily apparent as other species. Some even regard sharks as a public menace, but they play a key role in the ecosystem.
As top predators they are crucial in keeping the overall natural balance in the oceans and maintain other species' populations from getting completely out of control.
Many local communities depend directly on shark species for their livelihoods through diving, shark-watching and ecotourism business activities.
Over 100 million sharks are caught every year. They are mostly fished for their prized fins which are used in shark fin soup.
When the sharks are caught their fins are sliced off, but their carcasses are then pitched back into the sea and completely wasted, and often they are still alive and are left to die a slow painful death.
"Finning," as it is called in the fishing industry, has become so popular that shark populations have plummeted to the point that over 30 per cent of the species are either near threatened or close to total extinction.
This is why it is crucial that some of the key threatened and near extinct species are put under protection by the CITES member countries. Already many key countries are aware of the problem and are working within their territorial waters to try and solve the issue.
Ban on finning
The US for example has banned finning in its waters since 2000 and has measures in place to prohibit the importation of shark-products without sustainable catch certifications.
Indonesia is working to set up shark sanctuaries to protect the species-rich marine areas in its waters known as the "Amazon of the Ocean."
The initiative adds to a growing list of sanctuaries that accounts for about 6.7 million square kilomaters of ocean which is now off limits to shark fishing.
Last year the European Parliament closed loopholes in the European Union's shark finning legislation and now prohibits landing a shark's fins without the rest of its body.
Also last year in a major shift in policy, China proposed banned shark fin soup from being served at banquets.
It is a clear sign that the country prefers environmental sustainability over its taste buds.
Brazil, another G20 country, is leading the way and has reviewed its fishing policies on sharks.
Brazil took the initiative in Bangkok by proposing several of the shark and shark family species to be put on the CITES appendices.
But the only real way to protect sharks is a combination of regulating trade of endangered species with ensuring they are protected in the waters where they migrate.
Sharks are highly migratory and do not respect national boundaries.
This is why, in addition to CITES, that countries also work with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) to protect sharks when they are moving across national boundaries or are in high seas areas beyond national jurisdictions.
The CMS has developed an agreement called the Sharks MOU (memorandum of understanding) that is a legally non-binding agreement that aims to promote shark conservation, sustainable harvesting practices and protect shark habitats.
Missing link
The two UN conventions, CITES and CMS, have been working together for several years but the missing link has always been the trade of shark fins which is by far the largest threat to sharks.
The CITES agreement was a difficult one to reach with many countries including Japan against the measure.
Nevertheless it is an important signal and a step in the right direction towards strengthening international law for the protection of our most threatened species.
Threatened and near threatened shark populations may finally have a chance now to recover and ensure that sharks become a rare delicacy for the dining table rather than a rare delicacy for the environment.
Bradnee Chambers is the executive secretary of Convention on Migratory Species. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
A key international meeting in Thailand has taken steps that may finally put a stop to this.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took a landmark decision this month to regulate the trade of some of the key species used in shark fin soup - something it has failed to do twice in the past.
The CITES meeting has already seen a welcome focus on wildlife crime, with stepped up efforts to reverse the dramatic increase in the poaching of African elephants and rhinos.
Importance of sharks
At first glance the importance of sharks might not be as readily apparent as other species. Some even regard sharks as a public menace, but they play a key role in the ecosystem.
As top predators they are crucial in keeping the overall natural balance in the oceans and maintain other species' populations from getting completely out of control.
Many local communities depend directly on shark species for their livelihoods through diving, shark-watching and ecotourism business activities.
Over 100 million sharks are caught every year. They are mostly fished for their prized fins which are used in shark fin soup.
When the sharks are caught their fins are sliced off, but their carcasses are then pitched back into the sea and completely wasted, and often they are still alive and are left to die a slow painful death.
"Finning," as it is called in the fishing industry, has become so popular that shark populations have plummeted to the point that over 30 per cent of the species are either near threatened or close to total extinction.
This is why it is crucial that some of the key threatened and near extinct species are put under protection by the CITES member countries. Already many key countries are aware of the problem and are working within their territorial waters to try and solve the issue.
Ban on finning
The US for example has banned finning in its waters since 2000 and has measures in place to prohibit the importation of shark-products without sustainable catch certifications.
Indonesia is working to set up shark sanctuaries to protect the species-rich marine areas in its waters known as the "Amazon of the Ocean."
The initiative adds to a growing list of sanctuaries that accounts for about 6.7 million square kilomaters of ocean which is now off limits to shark fishing.
Last year the European Parliament closed loopholes in the European Union's shark finning legislation and now prohibits landing a shark's fins without the rest of its body.
Also last year in a major shift in policy, China proposed banned shark fin soup from being served at banquets.
It is a clear sign that the country prefers environmental sustainability over its taste buds.
Brazil, another G20 country, is leading the way and has reviewed its fishing policies on sharks.
Brazil took the initiative in Bangkok by proposing several of the shark and shark family species to be put on the CITES appendices.
But the only real way to protect sharks is a combination of regulating trade of endangered species with ensuring they are protected in the waters where they migrate.
Sharks are highly migratory and do not respect national boundaries.
This is why, in addition to CITES, that countries also work with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) to protect sharks when they are moving across national boundaries or are in high seas areas beyond national jurisdictions.
The CMS has developed an agreement called the Sharks MOU (memorandum of understanding) that is a legally non-binding agreement that aims to promote shark conservation, sustainable harvesting practices and protect shark habitats.
Missing link
The two UN conventions, CITES and CMS, have been working together for several years but the missing link has always been the trade of shark fins which is by far the largest threat to sharks.
The CITES agreement was a difficult one to reach with many countries including Japan against the measure.
Nevertheless it is an important signal and a step in the right direction towards strengthening international law for the protection of our most threatened species.
Threatened and near threatened shark populations may finally have a chance now to recover and ensure that sharks become a rare delicacy for the dining table rather than a rare delicacy for the environment.
Bradnee Chambers is the executive secretary of Convention on Migratory Species. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
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