By Olivia Miwil
Pictures by Fatma Wati Munir
KOTA KINABALU: The authorities will engage local communties to consider a traditional system to regulate fishing in certain areas at sea.
Sabah Fisheries Department marine resource management head Lawrence Kissol said the "tagal" system would protect sharks and rays from being over-fished.
Kissol said the system, which has a high success rate in protecting river life across the state, could be introduced on a bigger scale to coastal and island communities.
"There is a pressing need to work with the relevant stakeholders to address over-fishing," he said at a recent workshop organised by Sabah Shark Alliance.
The workshop was held to debate legality issues concerning marine species, as well as to discuss the Malaysian National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks.
Kissol also introduced the idea of setting up a sanctuary for sharks and more areas to be declared marine-protected.
Among the members of the Sabah Shark Alliance are the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch), Marine conservation Society, Shark, Education, Awareness and survival, Scubazoo, Tropical Research and Conservation Centre, World Wide Fund for Nature (Malaysia) and Shark stewards and Land Empowerment Animals People.
Recommendations tabled during the workshop included strengthening laws and policies banning the capture, trade and consumption of sharks and rays.
Other topics discussed were ways to manage marine areas to stem shark fishing, especially for fins, and to increase awareness among the public on the importance of both species in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
There are 63 shark and 84 ray species found in Malaysian waters.
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