the king of the sea: making fiji a shark sanctuary (english)
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The King of the Sea: Making Fiji a Shark Sanctuary https://www.facebook.com/FijiSharkDefendersTRANSCRIPT
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The King of the Sea:Making Fiji a Shark Sanctuary
Sharks have existed in the worlds oceans for around 400 million years.
(Before, during and after Dinosaurs)Until recently, nothing hunted them.
Sharks help maintain balanced, healthy marine resources by controlling fish and other
marine life under them.
Sharks do not give birth until they are 7 to 12 years old, and then only usually have 1 to 10 babies. This means that if they are fished, their numbers drop very quickly.
Most other kinds of fish breed when they are much younger, and have hundreds of babies, so they are not so badly affected by fishing.
DakuwaqaFijian people have strong traditional
links to sharks.Dakuwaqa is still respected in Fijian
mythology, as he protects his people from harm in the sea.
His image survives in the art of new Fijian generations
Shark Tourism Values in FijiMany tourists come to Fiji to dive (12%), snorkel (60%) or swim
Tourists love to see sharks!
96% of divers sharks in top 3 things to see
42% of divers sharks THE most important thing they had come to see
The value of living sharks is a big part of the value of Fiji Tourism, a billion dollar industry,
and of the FJ$150+ million/year earned for the country in tax.
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Live sharks are important to Fiji• Maintain a healthy balance on the reef and open ocean
• Culturally significant • Provide tourism $ for the economy of Fiji
There are reported declines in shark
populations of up to 70-80% globally.
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Commercial fishing represents the greatest threat to sharks
Morgan, A.C., 2010. Sharks: The State of the Science, Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC
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Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually
to support shark fin trading. The valueless bodies are usually discarded.
Morgan, A.C., 2010. Sharks: The State of the Science,
Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC
How Shark Fins are used • Shredded cartilage in Shark Fin soup – primarily Chinese weddings
• Remedies for arthritis - Chondroitin & Glucosamine tablets
Sharks in Fiji 35 of these shark species spend most of their lives along the coast and reefs of Fiji, and are often caught by commercial fishers.
residents
coastal vistors
oceanic
Long term residents(complete life- cycle within Fiji)
Oceanic
Move widely in region (visit Fiji reefs and coasts)
VULNERABLE
ENDANGERED
NEAR THREATENED
LEAST CONCERN
DATA DEFICIENT
58 species of shark have been reported in Fiji WatersMost are in danger of extinction
Historical By-Catch Shark Fishery in Fiji
Year # Sharks observed
caught
Number caught dead
Number Caught Alive
PercentFinned
1999 434 1 28 86%2002 75 7 58 78%2003 277 29 218 89%2004 451 62 339 90%2005 892 172 720 89%
In the past sharks were caught as By-catch of the Tuna Longline Fishery.
Most were caught alive (blue line) but almost 90% were killed and their fins taken (red line).
By-catch fins profit crew rather than boat owners
Targeted Shark FisheryIn the past few years the shark fishery has
changed from by-catch to a specifically targeted fishery, benefiting export firms, and
numbers taken are increasing.
On 29 March 2011 a film crew visited one of six Shark-fin and Sea Cucumber
export warehouses in Suva
Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011
Traders claimed they could deliver
ONE TONNE (1,000 Kg)
of DRIED Shark FIN per month
Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji
Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011Background: Over 100 bags, most of Beche de Mer (Sea Cucumber) with
about 35 bags of shark fins.Foreground: 3 piles of shark fins with
about 3,000 fins in each pile.
Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji
About 9,000 fins, (= 2,250 sharks),
plus 35 bags
Black Tip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus
Oceanic Whitetip Shark Carcharhinus longimanus
Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas
Species found in Shark Fin Warehouse in Fiji:Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011.
Oceanic Whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)Status: Vulnerable*
Blue sharks (Prionace glauca)Status: Near Threatened*
Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis)Status: Near Threatened*
* According to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
Photo taken: 29 March 2011, Suva, Fiji
Sharks Fins Drying in Fiji Warehouse
The Fiji Shark Sanctuary CampaignSupporting the Fiji Government’s initiative to
create a shark sanctuary across the entire Fiji EEZ,
a first for the South Pacific.
Campaign Aims:• An end to the trade in shark products, and to all
commercial shark fishing in Fiji• Declaration of the Fijian EEZ as a shark sanctuary, where
all shark species are protected
Research into Shark Densities, Habitats & Nurseries
Supplying data to Government to strengthen conservation initiatives
Media campaigns
Securing support from Traditional Leaders, the General Public, the Tourism Industry, & Conservation Organisations
Methods of the Campaign
Awareness RaisingMedia articles, District meetings,
School visits, Posters,
30 Minute Documentary
Logo for T shirts, Stickers Etc
Taking part in the Fiji Shark CampaignSupport enforcement of shark fishing ban
Posters: Please display prominently
Communities and Organisations: send Letters of Support to CORAL, PO Box 2558, Govt Bdgs, Suva, or Email [email protected]
Individuals: Sign the pledge at www.facebook.com/FijiSharkDefenders
The choiceis ours
Maroroya na Qio e Viti
Save the Sharks of
Fiji