Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Step up efforts to curb shark’s fin trade here

I read the report “S’pore edging up as world’s second-largest shark’s fin trader” (May 26) with concern.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp
Darren Chan Keng Leong

I read the report “S’pore edging up as world’s second-largest shark’s fin trader” (May 26) with concern.

Despite campaigns to educate food establishments to remove shark’s fin from their menus, there has been an increase in the trade.

Although it is a positive sign that restaurants have been halting the sale of this dish, perhaps “shark-friendly” certification would encourage more businesses to follow suit with sustainable seafood practices, as well as dialogue to address this issue openly.

Traditional medicine shops and traders are still displaying shark’s fin for sale, and the authorities and wildlife groups should address this aspect to curb the supply of and demand for shark’s fin.

Dialogue with these businesses would allow them to realise that the trade is doing more harm than good.

It is also important to educate the public about the misconception that shark’s fin improves one’s health or has medicinal properties.

Tackling the root of the problem would decrease the profitability of the trade in the long run.

Many shark species are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, owing to high consumer demand and hunting practices that contribute to sharks losing their natural habitats.

Also, in shark finning, sharks are caught, their fins are sliced off and their body discarded into the ocean, where they die a painful death.

So more emphasis must be placed on data collection and analysis of the trade in Singapore by strengthening our harmonised system codes.

Such export and import data are necessary to monitor the trade.

More resources could be used for enforcement action, to deter the shipment of illegal wildlife products to Singapore.

The authorities should also step up screening procedures to identify goods that are deemed to contain species protected by international conservation legislation.

Trade restrictions and classifications would enable businesses and consumers to engage in more sustainable practices such as procuring alternatives, and to understand that their choices determine the survival of these species.

A ban on shark’s fin should even be considered, as a step towards ceasing the import and export of protected wildlife and to focus efforts on wildlife conservation and education.

In any case, through combined efforts, Singapore should take a tougher stance on this cruel trade and its repercussions.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.