PAPEETE (FRENCH POLYNESIA)-Good news for sharks in the South Pacific. Not only has the government of French Polynesia included the mako, the last shark that was not protected in its waters, on the list of fish banned from capture or trade in its vast territorial zone in the South Pacific.Continue Reading
RAJA AMPAT (INDONESIA)- In 2005 conservationists and local villagers in the remote Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat worked together to create the Misool Eco Resort and Conservation Center, establishing a 165-square-mile “No-Take Zone” that banned fishing. These faraway islands in Western Papua, regarded by many marine experts as having theContinue Reading
BRUSSELS (BELGIUM)- Finally shark finning is complety banned from European waters. The European parliament last Thursday called a definitive halt to the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live mutilated sharks overboard to drown. Shark finning was prohibited by the EU already in 2003 butContinue Reading
OTTAWA (CANADA)- Friends of Hector have started a petition to urge Canada into protecting the endangered porbeagle sharks. It is the only country on the Atlantic ocean directly targeting this shark and is allowing thousands to be caught as ‘bycatch’ in fisheries for other fish. Over 17.000 people signed already.Continue Reading
SINGAPORE (SINGAPORE)- More and more more organisations in Singapore are saying ‘no’ to shark fin soup on the menu. At least two government ministries have said no. Others have taken their own initiative renounce the consumption of shark fin products. The campaign by Shark Savers Singapore is gaining ground. SinceContinue Reading
BANGKOK (THAILAND)-35 countries worldwide have now submitted seven species of vulnerable sharks and manta rays for consideration for protection next year under an international treaty concerned with regulating wildlife trade. The recommendations include porbeagle and oceanic whitetip sharks, three species of hammerhead sharks, and two types of manta rays. GovernmentsContinue Reading