Te ipsum eadem mutare debes ratione qua universum mundum mutari vis...

Home » Post Item » SHARK’S FIN DUMPLING, ANYONE?

SHARK’S FIN DUMPLING, ANYONE?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimated that more than 100 million sharks are caught annually[1].  Studies made by Baum and Myers[2] in the years 2002 and 2003 on shark populations established that several species of sharks have vanished at the rate of 49% to as much as 99% in a span of fifteen (15) years.  Other studies reveal an overall decline of 90% in shark population in the last fifty (50) years[3].

The decline in the population of sharks is due to several factors. One of these factors is attributed to the biology of sharks which have low reproductive capacity. The other factors are attributable to human activities. The marine ecosystem has already been destructed. Moreover, the popularity of shark products has resulted in over harvesting.

These factors led to the drop of shark populations which has been faster than ever before. Sharks occupy the apex of marine ecosystem. The drop in their population would mean real dangers to the balance of the marine ecosystem. One of these adverse effects is the increase in the population of prey species which in turn would reduce the number of their prey species. Overharvesting of sharks will lead to the collapse of the marine ecosystem.

Sharks are a public resource that should be protected for the benefit not just of the present generation but more importantly for future generations. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the Department of Agriculture is empowered by the Republic Act no. 8550 to formulate and enforce all rules and regulations governing the conservation and management of fisheries resources (Sec. 65[n]). Moreover, the protection of sharks can be a good resource for eco-visitorism under the auspices of the Department of Tourism.

In this light, it is crucial that the killing of sharks be completely banned. Again, sharks occupy the apex of marine biodiversity. Since one of the laws of Nature is that every thing is interconnected, killing of sharks will adversely alter the balance of the ecosystem.

Calling on the DENR, BFAR, DA, and the DOT officials.

 

 

   

   1]Rebecca Regney, The Recent International Measures to Protect Sharks Are Not Enough,<http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_news/international_measures_to_protect_sharks_not_enough.html>, January 7, 2005.

                2] Facts Endangering Sharks: Fishing,<http://www.shark.ch/Preservation/Facts/index.html>

   3]Rebecca Regney, The Recent International Measures to Protect Sharks Are Not Enough,<http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_news/international_measures_to_protect_sharks_not_enough.html>, January 7, 2005.


Posted by enpgamboa at 8:30 am | permalink

All comments are moderated. Your comments will not appear here unless approved by the blog owner. Thank you.

Add a comment