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