At a forum held by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, Dr. Giam Choo Hoo, a member of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Professor Steve Oakley, Shark Savers Malaysia chairman, and Hank Jenkins, president of conservation outfit Species Management Specialists, stated that a shark finning ban would not be effective because it will not dramatically reduce the number of sharks killed worldwide.

The three panelists also insist there is no evidence that live finning – cutting sharks’ fins off before throwing the sharks back into the sea – is a prevalent practice.

A forth panel member, Louis Ng, executive director of Singapore animal advocacy group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society , was not convinced.  He cited 2008 data that showed that fins commonly sell for $250 or more per pound (450 grams), far more than the measly dollars per pound for shark meat.

All four panelists agreed that more information on the sharks’ plight is needed. A 2010 report by non-profit group International Union for Conservation of Nature said there is not enough information on 47 percent of shark and related species to know if they are endangered.

Source article can be found here.

By: Murray W. Camp – MASNA ILOC Rep.