B4 | THE BRUNEI TIMES | Tuesday, 31 March, 2015 FINNING IS SICKENING “A S AN avid strayanimal rescuer, I was absolutely gutted when I heard about this unfortunate event (involving the tiger shark). It is a shame how we are killing these majestic animals that have been on the face of the earth for several hundred million years. This is an issue that needs more exposure. Even individuals who care about animals do not give a lot of thought to sharks. Hidden under the surface of the ocean, it is difficult to understand exactly how much destruction we have inflicted. However, we should be aware that the population of sharks is plummeting at an alarming rate. This is a fact. Sharks play a vital role in the marine ecosystem. Without sharks keeping the ocean ecosystem in check, there will be catastrophic consequences for us all. I think education and stricter shark hunting bans, alongside stronger enforcement, are probably some of the best ways to try and slow down the rate at which sharks are being killed, be it intentionally or unintentionally. And never underestimate the power of social networking. Divers feeding Bull sharks at the SEA Aquarium in Singapore. Picture: BT/Kelvin Chua Siti Nabilah Hj Nor Amin, 25, postgraduate student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Lin Ji Liaw, President of BruWILD Nowadays, more and more elders are joining WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. And these social media are often used to disseminate informal news, so why not put it to good use, right? Now it is just a case of finding a way to enforce the laws that have been established. Some sort of quota system could be applied to meet interests of conservationists and fisherman. Sustainable fishing would definitely lessen the possibility of sharks being caught. Although Brunei has banned shark hunting, it will only make WOULD like to say that in BruWILD's experience a lot of the time fishermen catch sharks by mistake. In other words, sharks are a by-catch – caught unintentionally. This could occur if nets are left in the sea for too long and sharks get caught up in them. Sharks are one of the top predators in the marine ecosystem. Overhunting, over-killing and over-extracting of sharks can cause an imbalance in the marine food chain/web. Top predators are often key players in maintaining the dynamic equi- the activities of some people unlawful. It is unlikely to decrease hunting on a wide scale because poachers are hunting for a purpose. I think all animals, including sharks, should be protected. All creatures are equal, so are sharks. Human beings should come to realise that we do not live alone in this world. So if individuals are concerned about the plight of sharks, there are plenty of things they can do to help. I for one will stay alert and join advocacy campaigns on sharks.” “I A file photo of grilled shark meat being sold at Jerudong Wet Market. Picture: BT File Get connected with BT’s Youth Speak via email at [email protected] and join our facebook page at BTYouthSpeak, twitter @btyouthspeak Through these interactive spaces, we hope to stimulate active discussion among youth and publish your views, concerns and ideas for the betterment of our future, our Brunei. librium of the marine ecosystem. But how are we educating our elders about it and what should the awareness approach be? The media is can be used to educate and raise awareness. Brunei has taken a bold and positive step towards banning shark hunting, selling and consumption. However, apart from patrolling our local waters for signs of illegal fishing (areas that are not permitted for fishing), regulations on the fishing techniques that can used should be strengthened and efforts made to ensure that only sustainable fishing methods are employed. Additionally, local fishermen should always practise diligent fishing and should not leave nets out in the sea for too long. And they should make every effort to release by-catch, including sharks, back into the sea. BruWILD's mission is to give the best educational support to the public in Brunei Darussalam. We have made efforts to increase awareness on the importance of our marine ecosystem (more info on this at www.bruwild.org and our Facebook page) and would like to continue our pursuit by also highlighting the significance of sharks in our local waters.” BT Youth Speak Team: Amanda Yap, Analisa Amu, Billah Hasan, Izzan Kassim Pictures: BT/Kelvin Chua, BT File and Agencies Visual Team: BT Visual Team
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