For someone who’s stopped consuming sharks fin dumpling and soup like me, it’s easy to assume that I no longer add to the number of people contributing to the possible extinction of sharks. But truth is, sharks are used in other consumable products.
Common Uses for Shark:
- Supplements/Alternative Medicines (shark cartilage, liver oil, et.al.)
- Steaks, Fish and Chips (shark meat)
- Imitation Crab, Lobster, Shrimp (surimi includes shark)
- Pet products (food, supplements, chews)
- Souvenir items (shark teeth)
- Leather (wallet, shoes, bags, et.al.)
- Cosmetics (lotion, lipstick, lip balm, deodorant, sunscreen, et. al.)
I recently just learned about surimi, that’s in the imitation crab that I use when I cook shabu shabu at home. Yikes! How ignorant can we be when it comes to the products we consume, really. I hope pray that even as I support this cause, I’m helping more people towards this awareness.
Thus this call for all of us to champion the preservation and protection of Thresher Sharks as we take part in a proposal that will prevent unsustainable fishing of sharks. This means that the market for their fins will be monitored and regulated.
We Filipinos are in a unique position to push for the protection of the thresher sharks as we are one of the few countries that value these sharks more than just for their fins. Not only is the Philippines’ YES vote important for thresher shark conservation, it would also provide the best platform to promote one of the world’s most sought-after dive experiences: the opportunity to see the pelagic thresher sharks in Monad Shoal and send a strong message to the world that our country remains as the preeminent destination to encounter these sharks. Not supporting the proposal means death to Daanbantayan’s diving industry, now contributing to 80% of its economy, that visitors and locals are now benefiting from.
We can all make this happen as we do the following:
1. Sign the Petition and Vote YES for Threshers at Change.org and let us unite in getting our voice heard.
2. Pledge support to theThunderclap campaign!
3. Visit Malapascua Island to see the thresher shark and support the community.
4. Share thresher shark posts on social media while using #SaveThresherTala #StoptheThresherHunt #PHsayYes
When this proposal passes, all trade in thresher sharks would be required to be sustainable – a policy that would go a long way in ensuring their survival for generations to come. Now that’s something we can do for the love of our children and our future children’s children.
