Move to protect sharks

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is willing to consider a call for sharks to be placed in the list of protected species under the Wildlife Act. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said he would be meeting with officials of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Tanjung Aru who made the call.

“I agree we need to relook at what we have included in the protected species list,” he said. Masidi added that his ministry had already made it a point that shark’s fin was off the menu at any of its functions, to contribute to the conservation of the marine creature.

Protected species: Consumption of shark fins is endangering the animal.

The JCI Tanjung Aru said protecting sharks is crucial as a recent informal survey by a group of 30 divers in Sabah waters showed that sharks were only seen in protected areas such as Pulau Sipadan and marine parks. The group said sharks should be included in the list of protected species in Sabah along with the Sumatran rhino and orang utan.

The JCI Tanjung Aru had embarked on a campaign to get Sabahans to reject the consumption of shark’s fin in an effort to save the marine species. For a start, shark’s fin soup is off the menu in any events organised by the the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Tanjung Aru. JCI Tanjung Aru members also intends to visit schools to raise the awareness on how the consumption of shark fins is endangering the animal.

-thestar online.