HAVE A HEART FOR SHARKS: (Back row, from left) Department of Fisheries Malaysia head (Marine Resource Management Branch) Mohamad Noor Nordin, PBB publicity chief Datuk Yusuf Sani Wahab, Assistant Minister of Rural Economy (Coastal Areas) and Fisheries Datuk Julaihi Narawi and Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department deputy director Bohari Leng together with children holding signboards appealing for public support towards the ‘Say No To Shark Fin’ campaign. — Photo by Norni Mahadi
MIRI: Restaurant and hotel operators have been urged to fully support the ‘Say No To Shark Fin’ campaign.
Assistant Minister of Rural Economy (Coastal Areas) and Fisheries Datuk Julaihi Narawi said such commitment was crucial in ensuring the success of sustainable management of marine resources in the country.
Speaking at the state-level launch of the campaign yesterday, Julaihi pointed out that in 2013, 27 countries and those under European Union banned shark-finning and related activities.
“China and Hong Kong even prohibit shark fin soup from being served during government official functions.
“Such effort, plus public awareness and sustainable shark management, have proven successful in bringing down the demand for shark’s fin soup to 30 per cent in both countries.”
Julaihi said the Malaysian government decided to ban shark’s fin soup during a government official dinner on May 21, 2014.
He said the prohibition order on the menu was implemented in stages – beginning with government functions and proceeding later to events hosted by the corporate sector and the public.
“This campaign is the government’s proactive step to show that Malaysia is also joining the global community in conservation of sharks.”
Julaihi further said such effort was also in line with Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Shark (IPOA-Shark), recommended by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
He explained that the commitment continued with the publication of ‘National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Shark (NPOA Shark)–Plan 2 as national guideline for conservation and management of sharks.
In addition to that, he said the Fisheries Department had included the prohibition of shark-finning – the cutting of the fin off a shark, processing of shark’s fin on local fishing vessels,
and disposing the carcass into the sea – as the term and condition of fishing licensing in 2014.
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan, in his earlier address, said the campaign was jointly run by his department, National Oceanographic Directorate (MOD), Sabah Fisheries Department and Aquawalk Sdn Bhd.
“Miri has been chosen as the roadshow venue for the ‘Say No To Shark Fin Campaign’ in Sarawak. The main objective of the campaign is to educate and to create awareness among the stakeholders of the importance of sustainable shark management,” he said in his speech, read out by Fisheries Department Sarawak deputy director Bohari Leng.
Ismail said the roadshow was the continuity of a similar campaign launched by former agriculture and agro-based industries minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Oct 3, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur.
The two-days roadshow, which ends today is hosting various programmes such as exhibition and briefing on sustainable shark management, children’s colouring contest, videos on the campaign, cooking demonstration on ‘
‘Soups Without Shark’s Fin’, presentation of campaign banners and buntings, and also the launch of the book on ‘NPOA Shark-Plan2’.
Fisheries Department planning and development section chief Rohani Mohd Rose, its marine resources management head Mohamad Noor Nordin and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) publicity chief Datuk Yusuf Sani Wahab.