Shocking find: Chong says the pictures of the dried shark fins sold in Kota Kinabalu were taken by dismayed tourists and then highlighted to their tour operators.
KOTA KINABALU: Shark conservationists are once again pushing for the ban on the hunting and finning of sharks in Sabah.
The latest call comes after tourists were appalled by shark fins being sold openly along the Sinsuran sidewalks in the city centre.
“Tourists come to see the marine diversity in our waters but they find more marine diversity along the streets of Kota Kinabalu instead.
“This cannot go on. Sabah must ban hunting and finning of all sharks, not just for certain shark species,” said Adderick Chong, a conservationist with the Sabah Shark Protection Association.
Advocating for overall shark protection, he said it was impossible to identify which species of shark was being sold by the roadside without proper expert identification.
“It could be the protected species of sharks, but we won’t know,” he said, adding that the pictures of the dried shark fins were taken by dismayed tourists on Friday and then highlighted to their tour operators.
The federal Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry had, among others, included the hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, winghead shark, and oceanic wingtip shark as totally protected three years ago.
Dive training agency RAID regional director James Costello also weighed in on the latest saga.
“I am saddened to see the pictures, and here of recent happenings. I urge action to be taken by the authorities against all those involved,” he said.
Commercial diver and co-founder of Sabah Dive Rangers, Jude Junius, said the Sabah government must make a stand on shark hunting and finning to protect the marine ecosystem.
Inbound tour operator Borneo Dream Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd owner Billy Hammond said that without government support to stop shark fining and other destructive activities, the state’s marine tourism would be severely affected.
“The efforts of groups such as Sabah Dive Rangers and enforcement teams are admirable, but without government support and the curbs on things such as fishing bombing and shark finning, I see the end of the marine park and tourism on the horizon,” he added.
