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Massive shark sanctuary declared in the Coral Triangle Jeremy Hance mongabay.com November 17, 2010
"Sharks are being killed for their fins, mantas are being killed for their gills, and rare reef fish are being caught for aquariums," said Peter Knights, Executive Director of WildAid, a conservation organization that works in the region. "It’s tragic that so much of Raja Ampat’s biological treasure is destined for consumers who are unaware of the impact." Sharks have been devastated worldwide, largely linked to the trade for shark fin soup. Sharks are caught, finned (whereby fishermen cuts off their fins), and then tossed overboard into the ocean to perish. It is estimated that 73 million sharks are killed every year for their fins alone. Seventy-five percent of shark species found in Raja Ampat are threatened with extinction. Campaigners for the new sanctuary hope the move will bring more divers and tourists to the region, thereby offsetting any loss of revenues for local communities due to the new regulations. "This new Shark Sanctuary owes its creation to thousands of ocean advocates who expressed the urgent need to protect sharks, mantas, and other marine life," stated Michael Skoletsky, Executive Director of Shark Savers, a conservation group that campaigned for the sanctuary. "Divers experience the oceans from the inside and are increasingly taking responsibility for ocean and shark conservation. Underwater ecotourism is a vital tool to counter the rampant exploitation of the world’s remaining sharks and bio-rich marine ecosystems."
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Tags: Fish Fishing sharks marine mammals Dugong marine animals protected areas marine protected areas indonesia coral triangle marine conservation Sea Turtles endangered species in-situ conservation conservation animals wildlife saving species from extinction oceans Ecotourism jeremy hance green environment Environmental news index | RSS | News Feed | Twitter | Home Advertisements:
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