Shark sanctuaries all set to take off in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s planned shark sanctuaries are set to take off, most likely by June this year.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said plans were being finalised for the setting up of the sanctuaries in waters surrounding Sabah where shark hunting would be banned.

“Hopefully, we will be able to make an announcement in June,” he told The Star yesterday.

Masidi did not state where the sanctuaries would be, but talk is that they will include areas within the 340sq km Tun Sakaran Marine Park in the east coast.

It is learnt that state officials are considering gazetting as many as six shark sanctuaries off Sabah.

The issue of the sanctuaries came to light again after British tourists photographed shark carcasses at Pulau Mabul, famed for diving activity, on Monday.

Sabah had clamoured for a ban on shark hunting but Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said such a move was unnecessary.

The state is getting help from the Federal Fisheries Department to set up these, with the latter identifying locations for it.

Sabah Shark Protection Association (SSPA) had raised an alarm about sharks being intentionally hunted after hundreds of fins were seen outside a shop here last October.

SSPA chairman Aderick Chong said the fins showed a supply chain from fishing vessels to the shops.