Sharks still skinned for fins in Sabah

Irwan Majid Irwan Majid Updated 4 years ago · Published on 13 Feb 2019 8:00AM · 1 Comments

THE number of sharks of various species landing at the Kota Kinabalu Sabah Fish Marketing (Safma) jetty proves that these creatures are more than just by-catches, says the Fisheries Department.

They are deliberately caught and sold for a profit.

There are 50 shark and 66 stingray species in Sabah’s waters.

The only laws that regulate the industry are the federal National Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 and Fisheries Act 1985, which are presently being amended.

The department is also in the midst of including the great-hammerhead shark, smooth-hammerhead shark, wing-head shark, reef manta, giant oceanic manta and oceanic white-tip shark in its list of protected species. – February 13, 2019.

Three species of sharks without fins being sold at a morning market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
Dried shark fins are used in soup and other delicacies. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
Great-hammerhead shark on the right with two other species of sharks without fins are openly sold at a market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
Baby sharks on sale at a morning market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
A worker stripping the fins off sharks at a market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
A worker pulling baskets filled with sharks at a market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
The sharks land on the jetty as early as 3am with workers pulling baskets filled with the fish, which are then stripped off their fins off at a market in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
Shark fins packaged and sold to 'in-the-know' customers at a stall in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. These are only available from under the counter. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.
A worker showing a dried fin before it is sealed and sold in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, February 13, 2019.

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Comments

  • Thanks for the photos. Now we can see the environmental damage caused by taking immature sharks. Soon they will be no sharks to catch if the juveniles never reach maturity. Sadly nature will be the loser and these fishermen will be out of a job. Shortsighted stupidity.

    Posted 4 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply