Threatened species: A bamboo shark being sold at the Semporna market place. — Photo courtesy of Luma Duyung Semporna
KOTA KINABALU: Pictures of sharks being sold in Sabah’s east coast Semporna market are once again sparking calls for a total ban on the hunting and finning of all types of shark.
Marine conservationists and diving enthusiasts are raising their concerns once again as pictures of devil rays, bamboo sharks, blacktip sharks, porcupine fish, blue-spotted stingrays, and parrotfish are being sold openly at the Sempor wet market.
The pictures were posted on the Luma Duyung Semporna Facebook page and shared among chat groups. There were also worries about whether the sharks were caught within Tun Sakaran Marine Park, home to the world-famous Pulau Sipadan diving paradise.
The diving community fears that the continued unrestricted sale of these species could irreparably harm the delicate marine ecosystem and jeopardise the stunning beauty of the underwater world that attracts tourists to the Semporna region.
Sabah Dive Squad Club president Sim Fui said these sharks are what divers “typically delight in encountering” during underwater excursions.
“The sale of endangered species like devil rays and bamboo sharks at the Semporna wet market undermines the very essence of conservation efforts and sustainable tourism. We need stronger enforcement and stricter penalties for those involved in the illegal capture and trade.
“Protecting our marine life is not just about preserving the charm of diving destinations but also about safeguarding the ecological balance of our oceans,” said Sim, whose club, also known as Deus Diving Club, has about 100 members.
He noted that it is illegal to fish within Tun Sakaran Marine Park, which is under Sabah Parks jurisdiction, while hunting for certain shark species is already banned by the Federal Government.
As of July 17, 2019, four shark species and two manta ray species have gained country-wide protection under the Federal Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 and the Fisheries Act 1985.
These include the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran), smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) and oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), as well as two ray species – the giant oceanic manta (Manta birostris) and reef manta (Manta alfredi).
Sim said it is time for the government to broaden the list of shark species to be protected from hunting, while enforcement is needed to ensure that fishing does not take place within the marine park.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the shortfin devil ray is listed as endangered and is a rare sight in the world’s oceans.
Various other shark species are listed as near-threatened or threatened in the IUCN list.
“It is time to work on more awareness programmes and provide alternative livelihoods for the local community to minimise the number of these species ending up in the wet market,” said Sim.
“Otherwise, the practice of selling precious marine species will have a long-term impact on marine biodiversity and the diving industry,” he added.
