By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nstp.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: Fishermen are supportive with the idea on the management and conservation of marine species but they still have to continue to fish to support their families.
World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) marine programme head Dr Robecca Jumin said the community, particularly traditional fishermen in Semporna, are not keen to make a living from other alternative livelihoods.
Other than fishing, those fishermen are not interested in working at tourism sector or seaweed farming due to inflexible schedule and other issues related with the authority.
“Those Semporna traditional and coastal fishermen are used to their lifestyle and become more motivated to catch sharks with its lucrative demands.
“In contrary, fishermen at Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, their trawlers catch sharks as purely bycatch,” she said during a presentation on overviews of stakeholders from Semporna and Kota Kinabalu during recent Sabah Sharks and Rays Forum 2018 here.
The two-day forum, which was jointly organised by Land Empowerment Animals People, WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Sharks Protection Association, aimed to get an update on the protection progress that include eco-tourism research, socioeconomic study, awareness-raising works as well as law and policy on Malaysia’s sharks and rays.
“As for group in tourism and hospitality sectors, their general perception is that loss of shark will affect tourism industry therefore the species should be sustain ably managed in and outside of marine protected areas.
“However, these players are concern with high influx of ‘low quality’ tourists, which there will also be language barrier to educate and ensuring tourist’s compliance (in measures taken to protect sharks and rays),” she said, adding the group had also agreed that removal of shark fins from menu has no effect on their business.
Sabah Fisheries department also echoes the same sentiment that targeted species of shark fishery and fins should not be consumed.
“While their perception that sharks are source of protein and secondary income to coastal community, they agree that it is important to reduce dependence on the species.
“The department also looks forward for (Federal law) Fisheries Act 1987 need constant revision and improvement,” she added.
Ends.
olivia@nstp.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: Fishermen are supportive with the idea on the management and conservation of marine species but they still have to continue to fish to support their families.
World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) marine programme head Dr Robecca Jumin said the community, particularly traditional fishermen in Semporna, are not keen to make a living from other alternative livelihoods.
Other than fishing, those fishermen are not interested in working at tourism sector or seaweed farming due to inflexible schedule and other issues related with the authority.
“Those Semporna traditional and coastal fishermen are used to their lifestyle and become more motivated to catch sharks with its lucrative demands.
“In contrary, fishermen at Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, their trawlers catch sharks as purely bycatch,” she said during a presentation on overviews of stakeholders from Semporna and Kota Kinabalu during recent Sabah Sharks and Rays Forum 2018 here.
The two-day forum, which was jointly organised by Land Empowerment Animals People, WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Sharks Protection Association, aimed to get an update on the protection progress that include eco-tourism research, socioeconomic study, awareness-raising works as well as law and policy on Malaysia’s sharks and rays.
“As for group in tourism and hospitality sectors, their general perception is that loss of shark will affect tourism industry therefore the species should be sustain ably managed in and outside of marine protected areas.
“However, these players are concern with high influx of ‘low quality’ tourists, which there will also be language barrier to educate and ensuring tourist’s compliance (in measures taken to protect sharks and rays),” she said, adding the group had also agreed that removal of shark fins from menu has no effect on their business.
Sabah Fisheries department also echoes the same sentiment that targeted species of shark fishery and fins should not be consumed.
“While their perception that sharks are source of protein and secondary income to coastal community, they agree that it is important to reduce dependence on the species.
“The department also looks forward for (Federal law) Fisheries Act 1987 need constant revision and improvement,” she added.
Ends.
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