Fishing renders sharks extinct

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 23: Aggressive hunting by greedy fishermen to make some fast buck with decline in several species of regular fishes proved fatal to certain species of sharks in Bay of Bengal between Srikakulam and Kakinada coast.

In a shocking revelation during recent studies by the researchers from department of zoology at Andhra University, Saw Head sharks had totally vanished from the high seas.

While Hammer Head sharks are at the verge of total extinction, Tiger Sharks, Monkey Tailed sharks reached the ‘threatened’ stage of extinction.

Since three years researchers studied the frequency of shark landing at Vizag coast as a byproduct during regular fishing and made these observations. Sharks are a highly endangered species according to the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and local fishermen are hunting for their fins.

Studies also revealed that there are around 16 kinds of shark species found in the Bay of Bengal between Srikakulam and Kakinada.

Shark fins are very popular in some Asian countries like Hong Kong and other parts of China , Japan , Singapore , Thailand and South Korea prompting local fishermen to catch them even strict laws are in place.

Shark fin soup is a prized delicacy in those countries while according to Chinese traditional medicine, the fins are used to strengthen the waist, supplement vital energy, nourish blood, reinvigorate the kidneys and lungs and improve digestion. Powdered shark fins are also highly sought after as an aphrodisiac in Asian markets. According to the Wildlife Act 1972, hunting, trading and consumption of sharks can attract prison term of seven years and fine of Rs 25,000.  

“Due to its aphrodisiac quality shark fin soup is very famous in certain Asian countries. Unfortunately aggressive hunting of these sharks for its fins had led to the present situation where certain species have already faced extinction and rest at the verge of extinction,” senior zoology professor at Andhra University, Dr D E Babu told this correspondent.

An average sized shark weighing between 60 to 100 kg would fetch the local fisherman about Rs 1,500 to 2,000. Traders buy these sharks openly from the fishermen, cut the dorsal, pectoral and tail fins, dry them and sell them to other traders at Chennai. From Chennai these fins go to markets of other Asian countries. Fishermen do not get much money by selling shark meat and it is solely because of the demand for fins that they hunt the big fish aggressively.

The price increases once the fins reach Asian markets. In cities such as Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, a bowl of shark fin soup costs $90. It is also a favourite delicacy in China. “There needs to be a strong regulation and watch on the shark hunting, sale and transport in coordinated effort along with forest department,” admitted, department of fisheries, joint director, Koteswara Rao.

Unfortunately not a single case of shark fishing was booked by the fisheries department though sharks are sold in an open local market.

Shark fish landing in the country reported to be 2.2 percent of the total fish landing across the country in 1985 and it dropped to 0.9 percent by 2010 mirroring an alarming situation of the depletion of shark population, adds Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) scientist in charge, Dr MM Prasad.

Of the total India’s shark catch east coast contributes 25 percent. “There needs to be a an integrated approach for shark fisheries management and conservation keeping in mind the livelihood of thousands depending on the shark hunting, though it is illegal. We should seek international cooperation for the activity and the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem meeting held at Maldives in 2011 also stressed on these aspects,” said Dr Prasad.