Environment: The very recent killing of Thresher and dogsharks for squalene, photos of the liver from some 1,000 + dogsharks that were caught. They live at least 2 fathoms deep..
We
CARE ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
GD
....although I spend time discussing
issues revolving around the tourism in El Nido, the following issue
takes supreme precedence as it directly affects concerns both
personally, professionally, and globally. This email was forwarded
to me by a friend who works in the tourism industry in
Donsol.
Lee
Hey Guys
Sorry to depress you with these photos... They were taken in
Donsol, Sorsogon
(whale shark habitat), just
two weeks ago by my friend Omar. The finned sharks are thresher,
hunted by the hundreds...
The pink stuff in the bucket are little pieces of shark liver (from
dog sharks) for squalene. Pictured here are of the
liver from some 1,000 + dogsharks that were caught. They live at
least 2 fathoms deep...
Please forward this article if you wish...thank
you.
This is
the way the fishermen earn in the off season. They sell it to
middle men who bring it to Taiwan and Hong Kong. I’ve seen
firsthand the hunting of dog shark and finning in
Sorsogon and even Siargao but
I am certain in happens everywhere.
What we can DO is raise awareness.
Please forward if you wish
Thanks,
Denise
www.ecorescue.org
Donsol, Sorsogon,
Philippines is known
internationally as being an area that attracts some of the largest
congregations of whale sharks in the world. Originally hunted for
their commercial value, the sharks have recently gained full
protection status throughout the Philippines. This was largely due
to the world-wide recognition they received from
WWF
and the incredibly positive response
from the tourism industry (both locally and internationally).
Obviously the local fisherman, whom are harshly punished if they
pursue Whale sharks, have found another animal to exploit,
Thresher
sharks. Unfortunately, this
species has the same ‘vulnerable to extinction’ status
as their cousins, the Whale shark. Just as unfortunate, they do not
have the same protection in Philippine waters. That can
change…
Local and international awareness campaigns proved their
effectiveness in protecting the whale shark. It can be done with
the Thresher sharks as well. Just a bit of education and an
economic value larger than what can be provided by fishing them
must be provided (the notion that protecting an animal for the sake
of protecting biodiversity, especially in third world countries, is
not a reality…misguided but true). Fortunately, there is
both education and a real economic value already being recognized
in other places within the Philippines. On the small island
of Malapascua, Threshers
sharks have gained protection
due primarily to the recognition that they 'bring-in' more money as
a live attraction for SCUBA divers than as a dead animal sold as
parts to the neighboring Asian countries. Taking a page from
Donsol, local operators developed community based awareness
programs and contribute to the community by providing jobs and much
needed infrastructure. The results have been positive for both
sharks and people. In Donsol, the attention has been on the
Whale
shark, now help is needed to
expand the attitude of protection to other species as
well…
Lee Goldman
Lee Goldman, MSc
Marine Biologist
SE Asia Kayak Tours
www.asiakayaktours.com