Singapore No Shark Fins
In 2002 OceanNEnvironment started the Say No to Shark Fins Campaign – in 2012 we shall take it to the Final Level – complete veto of shark fin dishes in Singapore by 2013
Shark fin soup is responsible for the destruction of shark populations throughout the world; between 75 to 100million sharks are killed each year, and the greatest cause is the growing demand for shark fin soup. Finsfrom between 50 million and 75 million sharks are traded through the Hong Kong and Singapore shark fin markets alone, each year. Thesesharks are generally not caught for their meat, but for their valuable fins. The most prized shark fins can cost hundreds ofdollars, with the average being about $40 per pound. Shark meat, in contrast, is worth much less than most fish. Hence in many cases, while at sea, sharks are stripped of their fins and thrown back to sea alive to die. In large parts of the oceans, populations of sharks are already down by 90% or more in just the last 20 years. In some area, they are considered regionally extinct. Thisproblem is made worse because sharks reproduce very slowly, taking up to 15 years to reach sexual maturity and thenreproducing few young. Sharks will not be able to out-reproduce the demands of the shark fin trade. The shark fins trade is absolutely insustainable.
We need to keep sharks in the oceans and out of our soup bowls.Sharks play a very important role in the oceans in a way that an average fish does not. Sharks are at the top of the foodchain and keep populations of other fish healthy and in proper proportion for their eco-system. Where sharks are eliminated, other bad events result. Forexample, no sharks’ means there will be more skates and rays, which then eat more shellfish. The result would be noshellfish for humans, and shellfish won’t be able to filter and clean the ocean water. This is not mere speculation:there are already several studies indicating that the elimination of sharks results in loss of other desirable species andmajor disruption of the ecosystem. If all of the sharks are killed, the oceans will no longer support the healthybalance of sea life that we need to survive.
Now Singapore one of the leading economy in the world can do our part by a complete ban of shark fins dishes. The taste of sharkfin soup is not shark. It is usually chicken broth. Shark fin does not contain the traditionally believed high levels ofnutrition content. Its value is cultural, but not essential. If we still want to have shark fin soup, artificial shark fin is worthconsidering, as it is less expensive and many people have trouble telling the difference from the real thing. Balance and moderation are valued tenets of traditional Chinese way of life. We can all take pride and honor inrecreating a balance to our ecosystem by choosing ban the sale of shark fins in Singapore. Singaporean can help save sharks from extinction.
We declare that we will endeavour to preserve the life of sharks in our oceans and seas so that they may sustain the ecology and bio-diversity of our planet. We will do our utmost to discourage the indiscriminate fishing and killing of sharks and a complete veto of shark products in Singapore. We will promote the education of ecology of sharks to the young and old with fervour and grace so that we may live with a greater appreciation of our affinity with the sea. You can support the Cause by going to: http://www.causes.com/causes/645393-no-shark-fins-singapore
The apex predator of the ocean's ecological web now faces a new predator - the human being. We have created a need for the cruel finning of sharks by our desire to consume them. Our fishing industry's indiscriminate methods have caused the unnecessary suffering and death of these creatures. It will cause an imbalance in the ecology and bio-diversity of their habitat, our oceans, and our seas. It is an unfair and unjust but preventable predicament that the human being has created for the voice-less shark. This practice will continue to a catastrophic disaster if we do not take immediate action to avert it. The primary motivators that continue to cause this race to disaster moot from ignorance rather that deliberate desire. There is an imperative need to inform and inspire to overcome the present apathy. This declaration is but a small step for humankind to redeem the imbalance we have caused and give voice to the defenseless shark.
On 8 May 2007, 296 Hawksbill turtles and 90 Green turtles preserved with formalin, were found on a Chinese fishing vessel that was intercepted by the Indonesian authorities, off the eastern coast of Kalimantan. The Hainanese boat carried over 20 Chinese seamen was detained. Besides the Turtle Foundation, the major news agencies also reported the hideous haul.