KOTA KINABALU: The Fisheries Act must be amended to include a new provision to protect all types of sharks found in Sabah.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the amendment is important to step up efforts to check the shark population from further decline.
“The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry (federal government) and agriculture agencies in the peninsula,” he told reporters after launching “Sabah Protects Sharks, Imperial Gourmet Soup Challenge” at Suria Sabah, near here yesterday.
Masidi said that the ministry wants all types of sharks found in Sabah to be fully protected.
The move was necessary as it involves the tourism industry and arrival of tourists especially those into diving activities.
“Diving is among Sabah’s most popular tourism products with receipts of RM237 million last year. Many divers come here to see sharks and will go to other countries if they become extinct. This will surely affect our tourism industry,” he added. — Bernama