Miri kicks off nationwide campaign to save the sharks

Children and adults and fisheries top officials from state and country at the launch of nationwide Say No To Sharkfin Consumption Campaign starting in Miri Sarawak today. State assistant fisheries minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi (third from left) kicked off the state level campaign in Miri city. PIX- Stephen Then.

MIRI: The Fisheries Department Malaysia has kicked off a nationwide campaign to reduce consumption of shark fin here Saturday.

The launch of the “Say No To Shark fin Consumption Campaign” in Miri will soon be followed by similar campaigns in Pahang, Perak and Sabah and the rest of the country, said its director-general Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan.

“This is part of our effort to enhance the preservation of sharks and other endangered marine life in our waters.

“We are serious and committed towards ensuring the preservation and conservation of our rich marine resources and we urge all parties in the public and private sectors to help in this effort,” he said.

Sarawak Assistant Minister for Industrial Development and Rural Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi, who launched the campaign, said this conservation project was fully supported by the state government via the state fisheries authorities.

“This project by the Malaysian Fisheries Department and Sarawak fisheries is a show of their commitment towards ensuring the survival of our marine resources.

“There are at least 67 species of sharks in our waters (in the South China Sea offshore Sarawak and Malaysia).

“Malaysia has the fourth highest number of shark species in the world after Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

“More species are becoming endangered and 27 countries have already banned shark finning and consumption of shark fin including China and Hong Kong.

“Through this campaign in our state and country, the government will take the lead by banning shark fin soup from any official functions.

“We will want to see the private sectors doing the same and stop eating shark fin soup during their gatherings.

“We will also appeal to restaurants, eateries and retail shops to boycott shark fin products.

“The conservation of sharks and other endangered marine resources is an international effort and we must do our part,” he said.

Julaihi said the state fisheries department will get the help of 16,000 fishermen statewide to join in the campaign and to stop shark hunting and finning.