Asian_Geographic_Issue_4_2017

DATA SOURCED FROM WWF, THE HUFFINGTON POST

notably for larger companies who

acquire the majority of catches:

“If commercial fisheries are caught,

they get fines and penalties.”

In addressing these restrictions,

Liz Ward-Sing from Shark Guardian,

a marine conservation charity that

conducts research projects, says:

“We do not have data to show how

shark populations have been affected

by these bans [in relation to Asia and

the rest of the world]. But we know

that bans have had a positive effect

long-term [on shark populations] in

places like Palau.”

But Palau and Raja Ampat are just

notable exceptions. It is very unlikely

that more nations will implement full

or temporary bans given feasibility

issues – and money: There is still

a high demand for shark fin, and

countless businesses are invested

in the industry, which generates

significant revenue.^

FACING THE REALITY

In a simple dichotomy, there are

nations that source the sharks, and

nations that trade them. Regarding

the former, national efforts to manage

and regulate shark fisheries have

really missed the mark – to such an

extent, in fact, that they have led to

the resounding failure of the plan for

shark conservation by the UN Food

and Agriculture Organization (FAO),

approved in 2001.

The TRAFFIC and PEG analysis

from 2011 found that out of the

top 20 “shark catchers” – who

collectively account for 80 percent of

the global shark catch – only 13 have

implemented national plans of action

to protect sharks – the FAO plan’s

primary recommendation.

AN ESTIMATED 11,437 SHARKS ARE KILLED PER HOUR GLOBALLY

Into the Red Zone

59.6% of imports from 71.3% of re-exports from

Total Imported

14,114 tonnes

Total Re-exported

12,045 tonnes

Spain Uruguay Hong KongMainland

China

Namibia Singapore Taiwan

Singapore is the second-largest re-exporter and

importer in the world by value (USD)

Singapore is the 14th-largest importer of

shark meat in the world by volume

68.8% of imports from 64.6% of re-exports from

Total Imported

7,213 tonnes

Total Re-exported

6,116 tonnes

Taiwan Republic

of Korea

Republic

of Korea

Mauritius Singapore Brazil Italy

100 million sharks are killed every year, although this is more widely estimated to be anywhere in the range of between 63 million and 273 million

environment