Movement to ban shark fin trade in Singapore

[Wantonmien]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/11/ba...-in-singapore/

As normal I've got my name on this one - and if you have 1 minute to spare and want to increase the pressure to end shark finning - get your name on it !!

Cheers

 

[xariatay]

I did, let's see how it goes...

 

[caledfwlch]

But yiou live in taiwan, whyr u signing a petition to ban it in singapore. that skews the results

 

[DevonDiver]

Global petitions. It lets the government concerned know what world opinion is.

@Wantonmien: Can you link to the actual petition? The link you posted seems to direct to the petition site, but I can't find the petition there...

 

[Wantonmien]

But yiou live in taiwan, whyr u signing a petition to ban it in singapore. that skews the results

Caledfwlch - you don't have to live in Singapore to recognise a ban on trade there would be another win for the protection of sharks, Check the petition, names are from around the globe and hopefully yours is on it to !

For the Singapore petition correct link is - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/11/ban-shark-fin-trade-in-singapore/ (Thanks Devon Diver for noting initial link was wrong)

There are also direct EAST/HSI awareness campaigns ongoing in Taiwan to get the fin off the menu - and you may also be interested also to check a couple of links I posted here - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/taiwan/385387-good-campaign-begins.html

For EAST/HSI new 'dont eat shark fin soup' campaign video increasing awareness in Taiwan - watch it here - YouTube - ‪

cheers

 

[Wantonmien]

& some good news in Taiwan - a breakthrough, and the first Asian country beginning to impose restrictions.

Taiwan fishermen to be asked to bring in sharks intact - CNA ENGLISH NEWS

Taiwan fishermen to be asked to bring in sharks intact
2011/07/10 19:41:32

Taipei, July 10 (CNA) Taiwan will next year become the first Asian country to ban fishermen from bringing in dismembered sharks, as part of efforts to prevent finning, a local report said Sunday.

Taiwan's Fisheries Agency (FA) under the Council of Agriculture expects to implement a new regulation to force fishermen to keep shark catches intact until they arrive in port, with violators set to face fines or suspension of their fishing licenses.

Taiwan will be the first country in Asia to do so, said Sha Chih-yi, director general of the agency.

Finning is the practice of cutting the fins off sharks and throwing the animals back into the sea to die, as the fins are an expensive delicacy, while the rest of the fish is basically worthless in comparison.

Sha was also quoted by the United Evening News as saying that the United States and Costa Rica have both adopted this rule.

The agency will amend the regulations for fishing operations in the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean according to the Fishery Laws, and implement the new rule next year at the earliest.

The agency has dispatched more than 30 officials to major ports around the country to raise awareness of the new law.

However, the fishing industry has claimed that the change will affect the freshness of catches and decrease profits.

According to Lin Yueh-ying, head of a fisherman's association in Suao, a major fishing port in northeastern Yilan County, fishermen currently dismember sharks at sea and pack the parts separately, which she said keeps catches fresher and allows for better prices.

Intact shark bodies take up too much space and will therefore decrease the amount of catch that can be transported by about 20 percent, said Lin, adding that the price of shark fin is expected to increase once the law is implemented.

However, in the eyes of conservation groups, finning is cruel and against the balance of the environment.

Chen Yu-min, an official of the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan, welcomed the new law. (By Jamie Wang) ENDITEM/J

 

[InTheBlue]

Excellent petition. I'm signed up.

 

[DevonDiver]

& some good news in Taiwan - a breakthrough, and the first Asian country beginning to impose restrictions.

Taiwan fishermen to be asked to bring in sharks intact - CNA ENGLISH NEWS

Taiwan fishermen to be asked to bring in sharks intact

I was under the impression that removing the fins from sharks, whilst fishing boats are still at sea, was already covered by an international convention?

 

[Wantonmien]

DevonDiver,

Banned in some countries, and banned around some countries oceans, but internationally banned, no, not yet !

The intention by Taiwan to be the first in Asia to tighten its laws (on a par with the States) is of course welcomed by a lot of the dive community out here, plus the International Protection agencies have an additional lever to get similar bans imposed elsewhere, whilst campaigns to get 'fin' off the menus roll on.

A couple more links below.

Taiwan to Implement Fins-Attached Policy for Shark Fishing : Humane Society International

Seems things are moving in the right direction, or seem to be in Taiwan at least.

Also worth a look at global changes on here RTSea Blog: keeping an eye on Nature: Shark Conservation Progress: encouraging regional steps; next up - international regulations

Cheers

 

[xariatay]

Although not perfect, it is better than nothing... However, we have to note to consumers that even when the cruelty factor is "ruled" out, we are still overfishing of sharks - up to 73million sharks every year...