By Olivia Miwil - June 24, 2021 @ 10:40am
KOTA KINABALU: Researchers and conservationists are frustrated to see rare species of sharks being kept in a restaurant tank, here.
Recently, images of a zebra shark (Stegosoma tigrinum, also known as the leopard shark) being kept in a tank inside the restaurant's eating area were circulated online.
The shark is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of species at risk of extinction, with its numbers dwindling worldwide.
Despite being rare and mainly a nocturnal animal, zebra sharks can occasionally be seen on the reefs around Sabah.
They are cited as being particularly graceful when swimming, as their long tail moves like a ribbon through the water.
Marine Research Foundation founder and executive director Dr Nick Pilcher said it was disheartening to see the threatened shark species being kept like that.
"This is an incredibly rare species of shark, one which should be accorded protection by law, according to its endangered status.
"It is incredible that this species of shark can still be seen in Sabah. Yet, sad that one is being kept in this manner for consumption," he said in a statement.
Pilcher also said apart from the zebra shark, another rare species of juvenile and adult female Napoleon wrasse were also being kept in the restaurant.
Napoleon wrasse is also listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and are only regularly sighted in protected areas, such as Pulau Sipadan.
Despite both species being listed as endangered by the IUCN, neither are protected by law in Sabah, if they are found outside of Sabah Parks' gazetted areas.
"From a conservation perspective, it is frustrating to see these animals being kept in this manner – or landed and sold in fish markets, especially when so many government bodies and non-governmental organisations are working together to protect the incredible marine biodiversity found in Sabah.
"Endangered species such as these should be accorded full protection by law, and not exploited by restaurant owners and traders," Dr Pilcher added.
This issue is being engaged by a group of NGOs as part of the Sabah Shark and Ray Initiative, including LEAP Spiral, Forever Sabah, WWF-Malaysia, Marine Research Foundation, Scuba Junkie SEAS and the Sabah Shark Protection Association.
Scuba Junkie SEAS conservation manager David McCann said now is the time to consider adding more species to the protected list.
"It would mean that these incredible animals are protected outside of the confines of our marine parks.
"Sabah has been recognised internationally for the incredible biodiversity and rare species found here.
"Protecting these species by law would enable local conservation efforts, which could in turn have positive ramifications from a global conservation perspective, as well as benefiting ecotourism," he said.
McCann added when tourism reopens, all efforts made to protect Sabah's biodiversity and make Sabah stand out from a global perspective, are important.
While it is a complex issue, he said it could be achieved through both regional and global assessments, such as those carried out by the IUCN, to determine best practices suited to a particular area.
Marine Protected Areas have been a notable success for shark conservation in Sabah, particularly for Pulau Sipadan, which gained international recognition in the recently published Global Fin Print study.
The study, carried out in 2015, found that despite sharks being "functionally extinct" in 20 per cent of the world's reefs, well-enforced protected areas – such as Pulau Sipadan – had abundant and thriving populations of sharks.
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