The unconscionable trade in shark fins.

It is well known that sharks are a critical part of the ecosystem that sustains our reefs and reef fisheries. Also well known is the fact that these creatures are highly endangered.

With 100 million sharks slaughtered around the world each year, there are fears that sharks could disappear altogether.

Even with this knowledge in hand, the trade in sharks continues unabated. There is no law against it in Pacific Island countries, according to our page one story.

A conservationist has called on regional countries to ban shark fishing. Whether his words have any effect remains to be seen.

Sharks are caught mostly by fishing fleets targeting tuna. There are no figures available on how many sharks such fleets catch.

But given the number of fishing fleets in Pacific waters, the catch has to be significant. Once sharks were by-catch but now they are specially targeted because of the high prices they fetch.

In a practice called finning, the fins of the sharks are removed while they are still alive. The creatures are then thrown back into the water still thrashing and bleeding to an agonising death. It is cruel and inhumane but those in authority are not doing much to stop it.

It is time to act. The Pacific could lose these magnificent creatures. Not only are sharks significant to our reefs but also a cultural totem for Pacific Island countries that regard them as sacred.

A call to ban shark-fin soup from restaurant menus should be heeded as this would be a significant step in the fight to protect sharks.

The slaughter of sharks is being driven by the high prices their fins fetch, so making it illegal for restaurants to sell shark-fin soup would remove an incentive for killing sharks.

Such a ban would stigmatise and make it socially unacceptable for people to consume shark-fin soup.

It would also create greater public awareness about the fact that sharks are endangered and need to be protected.

Many people are unaware of the disgusting and cruel methods used to obtain shark fins. They would be put off their soup if they knew.

Scientists and researchers are working hard to protect sharks through schemes such as Marine Protected Areas but their attempts will be in vain without tough action from governments in the region.

It is time to outlaw the cruel, destructive and unconscionable trade in shark fins.

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/conservationist-calls-for-shark-fin-trade-ban/