August 2019
Just the mention of sharks and some people automatically tense up with thoughts of movies like JAWS. You might think that we have to be the ones afraid of sharks when we head out to sea, but it’s actually humans that are KILLING SHARKS at an alarming rate! Now thanks to environmental activists and conservation groups, there are more regulations in the trade of shark fins and other types of Shark and Ray products. Eighteen species of endangered Sharks and Rays have been given new protections status. This landmark in shark conservation just might make a difference for these endangered species before it’s too late and they become extinct.
This past week a group that includes 183 member countries, called the Conference of Parties (CoP18) met in Geneva to review the animals listed in Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This treaty regulates the trade of global wildlife and has many threatened and endangered species already on it.
Now, thanks to pressure from environmental scientists and wildlife advocates, governments from around the world have voted to add 18 types of sharks, rays, and wedgefish species to the list. Although the new status doesn’t outright ban the trade of their fins and meat yet, it means that the international trade of these species will be regulated. Member countries will be given an incentive to ensure that they are managing their fisheries in a sustainable way.
Finally, a Win for Sharks and Rays!
Conservation groups have long pushed for more awareness around the unregulated shark fin industry and are considering this a huge win! Environmental advocate, Luke Warwick, said “The CITES Party governments clearly sought to strengthen efforts to prevent the extinction of mako, guitarfish and wedgefish sharks and rays. Sharks and rays are among the most threatened species on our planet and momentum is clearly building to ensure that these species – which have been around for 400 million years – continue to be around for future generations.” In a statement on behalf of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
What types of endangered Sharks and Rays were included:
The species included were 2 varieties of Mako shark (Long fin and Short fin), which is the fastest shark in the ocean. Also included were 6 giant variations of Guitar Sharks, which get their name from their unusual guitar shaped body. There was an impressive 10 species of Wedge fish included as well. Wedge fish are also called ‘Rhino Rays’ because of their elongated snouts and are some of the most critically endangered species included in this group.
These proposals had the highest number of co-sponsors in the 40 year history of the CITES convention, with 54-61 member nations co-sponsoring the different sharks and rays. All the proposals were passed by at least a two-thirds majority, with the specific vote counts as follows. The mako sharks passed with 102 votes to support, 40 against, and 5 members abstaining. Giant Guitarfish up for proposal passed with 109 yes votes, 30 no votes, and 4 abstentions. Finally, the 10 wedgefishes species being proposed passed by a 112 to 30 vote victory and only 4 members choosing to abstain. All voting was made by secret ballot but some countries publicly spoke out against the proposals.
Why the vote wasn't unanimous
Malaysia was one of the countries to vote against protecting Rhino rays like this one. We took this picture while we were at Paya Beach Resort on Tioman Island in Malaysia. We witnessed what we can only assume were locally caught sharks being butchered and served by their restaurant at least several times a week. For shark lovers like us who make a life out of showing these amazing creatures to people while they are swimming in the wild, it was extremely heartbreaking!
Malaysia was one of 40 countries that voted against the proposals. After they stated publicly that they would not support the new protections, some of their citizens demanded to know why.
Aderick Chong of the Sabah Shark Protection Association on Borneo said “Wedgefishes and guitarsharks are easy to identify and (thus) enforceable (ban from fishing or selling the species)…. What would be better is to protect all sharks (species) so that authorities do not have to identify which is protected and which is not,”
The Malaysian fisheries dept made a public statement defending their vote saying “Malaysia’s position not to support the listing of mako sharks, guitarfishes and wedgefishes at the COP18 Cites is based on the views of shark experts in the region as well as recommendations of the Fisheries Department,“
The department explained this was because the fishes were not “targeted species,” but are obtained as bycatch, meaning that they are caught unintentionally when other species are targeted.
They went on to defend their decision further by stating that the proposals had been discussed at a meeting of the countries in the ASEAN block. “As a follow up to that discussion, the position of Asean countries on the listing was further discussed at the 15th Asean Working Group on Cites and Wildlife Enforcement held on April 2 to 4 in Sandakan. In that meeting, the majority of Asean nations decided not to support the proposal”
What is Shark "Bycatch"?
Most large sharks are Pelagic, meaning that they roam the open ocean where they are beyond the jurisdiction of local laws that protect endangered marine species. According to a paper published in the journal Nature, more than 150 scientists found that larger shark species accounted for more than half of all identified sharks caught globally as fisheries’ targets or “bycatch”
In July of this year, The Guardian reported Prof Rob Harcourt, from Macquarie University as saying, “This paper shows that pelagic sharks converge on what we call ‘hotspots’ in the oceans, where there are high concentrations of prey. Unfortunately, for the very same reason, fishing fleets head there, too. This makes the sharks more vulnerable and the need to protect them much more urgent.”
The term “Bycatch” might make it sound like it was unintentional or doesn’t happen very often. However, ships routinely return to port with thousands or even millions of pounds of shark fins and meat caught by nets and long lines, that they will then sell on the open market. Calling it Bycatch just means that they aren’t labeled as shark fishermen, and they can continue to keep catching these threatened species.
The value of a single shark
It can be hard to put an exact number on a sharks value, because while you can list the price of a shark fin, it’s much harder to estimate how much a living shark can generate in terms of tourism dollars. It is also next to impossible to put a dollar amount on how important a living shark is to the health of the overall marine ecosystem.
A 2006 Australian government study found that 25% of the spending by visitors to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is directly attributable to the opportunity to see sharks. And a study from James Cook University, also in Australia, found that a gray reef shark in the Maldives was worth U.S. $3,300 a year in tourism, as opposed to U.S.$32 dollars when sold by a fisherman. In Palau, an individual reef shark was estimated to have a lifetime value of U.S.$1.9 million to the tourism industry compared with a market value of U.S.$108 if caught and killed. (Source Ocean Health Index)
In recent years local tour and dive operators, in areas of Malaysia and Indonesia have started incentive programs. The aim of these programs is to give local fishermen new opportunities to make income with their boats. By taking tourists out to see the reef sharks and manta rays that they used to hunt, they can now earn far more money while the threatened species is allowed to carry out it’s essential role in the oceans delicate ecosystem. These boat captains also have a new reason to keep other fishermen from coming into the area to hunt these beautiful creatures!
Become a "Skark-tavist"
If you’re looking to know more about this epidemic we recommend the following films. They give an up close look at how sharks are killed and sold in markets around the world even when it is against local laws. These films can be hard to watch, but may inspire you to become more involved. Keep reading below for ways that you can make a difference.
Sharkwater
Sharkwater is a 2006 documentary. In this film Rob Stewart travels with Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd society throughout Guatemala and Costa Rica, as they confront shark poachers, police, and a corrupt court system. He goes on to explore the cause and effect that reduced shark populations have on climate change due to the increase of fish and the plankton that they eat.
Shark Bait
In 2011 Gordon Ramsay did a brilliant, but somewhat controversial documentary about the Shark Fin economy. This movie starts with Ramsay on board a boat that catches sharks. In the process of making the film he was threatened multiple times as he tries to get access into secret markets and areas where shark fins are being dried. He was even held at gunpoint and had gasoline poured over him by local gangs that protect the multibillion dollar industry.
A Fish Full of Dollars
A Fish Full of Dollars, which came out in 2016, centers around the Shark fin and Manta Ray gill rakers being sold at the Tanjung Luar fish market in Lombok Indonesia. It addresses how the local fishermen rely on killing and selling Sharks and Rays to feed an ever growing global market. The movie follows the shark fins from the source as fishermen have to keep going out farther and farther each day to find their catch. It then takes a look at the trade routes to markets in China, where a majority of the products are finally sold to consumers.
Taking more steps to protect Endangered Sharks and Rays
While this new classification for these 18 species is a good step in the right direction, it is only the beginning. We need more people to become aware of the issues and speak out as shark advocates and participate in campaigns to protect sharks and rays. There are many organisations, such as Shark Guardian and Project AWARE, that are actively conducting conservation programs to ensure that sharks will continue to be around for generations to come. Support and participation in these types of programs is one way to help protect the apex predators of the sea.
Another way that you as an individual can make a difference is to ‘Vote with your wallet’. Refuse to eat at any restaurant that offers shark fin soup or other shark and ray dishes on its menu. You can even take it one step further by starting a petition in your area addressed to the owners of local restaurants asking them to pledge not to serve shark products as Ramsay did in his film.
As you travel, seek out businesses that have shark awareness programs or shark conservation efforts. Some tour and dive operators even pledge a portion of their proceeds to donate towards conservation efforts. Eco-tourism is becoming more popular, and by choosing to do business with companies that support these causes you can have a positive impact.
Thinking and acting locally may have limited immediate effects, but large scale change will require action on the world stage. Your elected officials need to hear your voice. They have an important role to play by committing to join treaties and other protections for the world’s shark and ray populations. Once these treaties are in place, enforcement will be the next crucial step.
Thank you for caring about Sharks!
Thank you for your interest in protecting the many types of endangered sharks and rays in our oceans. More people need to be aware of the challenges that these species face and the impact they can have on our global marine environment. For too long now, sharks have gotten a negative stereotype that is largely a matter of misconceptions or complete lack of the facts.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and we encourage you to share it with people via email and social media. As always, if you have something to add or feel that we left something out we invite your feedback below, or kindly drop us a message through our contact page.
Wishing you great Shark adventures for many years to come,