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The King of the Sea:Making Fiji a Shark Sanctuary

Sharks have existed in the worlds oceans for around 400 million years.

(Before, during and after Dinosaurs)Until recently, nothing hunted them.

Sharks help maintain balanced, healthy marine resources by controlling fish and other

marine life under them.

Sharks do not give birth until they are 7 to 12 years old, and then only usually have 1 to 10 babies. This means that if they are fished, their numbers drop very quickly.

Most other kinds of fish breed when they are much younger, and have hundreds of babies, so they are not so badly affected by fishing.

DakuwaqaFijian people have strong traditional

links to sharks.Dakuwaqa is still respected in Fijian

mythology, as he protects his people from harm in the sea.

His image survives in the art of new Fijian generations

Shark Tourism Values in FijiMany tourists come to Fiji to dive (12%), snorkel (60%) or swim

Tourists love to see sharks!

96% of divers sharks in top 3 things to see

42% of divers sharks THE most important thing they had come to see

The value of living sharks is a big part of the value of Fiji Tourism, a billion dollar industry,

and of the FJ$150+ million/year earned for the country in tax.

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Live sharks are important to Fiji• Maintain a healthy balance on the reef and open ocean

• Culturally significant • Provide tourism $ for the economy of Fiji

There are reported declines in shark

populations of up to 70-80% globally.

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Commercial fishing represents the greatest threat to sharks

Morgan, A.C., 2010. Sharks: The State of the Science, Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC

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Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually

to support shark fin trading. The valueless bodies are usually discarded.

Morgan, A.C., 2010. Sharks: The State of the Science,

Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC

How Shark Fins are used • Shredded cartilage in Shark Fin soup – primarily Chinese weddings

• Remedies for arthritis - Chondroitin & Glucosamine tablets

Sharks in Fiji 35 of these shark species spend most of their lives along the coast and reefs of Fiji, and are often caught by commercial fishers.

residents

coastal vistors

oceanic

Long term residents(complete life- cycle within Fiji)

Oceanic

Move widely in region (visit Fiji reefs and coasts)

VULNERABLE

ENDANGERED

NEAR THREATENED

LEAST CONCERN

DATA DEFICIENT

58 species of shark have been reported in Fiji WatersMost are in danger of extinction

Historical By-Catch Shark Fishery in Fiji

Year # Sharks observed

caught

Number caught dead

Number Caught Alive

PercentFinned

1999 434 1 28 86%2002 75 7 58 78%2003 277 29 218 89%2004 451 62 339 90%2005 892 172 720 89%

In the past sharks were caught as By-catch of the Tuna Longline Fishery.

Most were caught alive (blue line) but almost 90% were killed and their fins taken (red line).

By-catch fins profit crew rather than boat owners

Targeted Shark FisheryIn the past few years the shark fishery has

changed from by-catch to a specifically targeted fishery, benefiting export firms, and

numbers taken are increasing.

On 29 March 2011 a film crew visited one of six Shark-fin and Sea Cucumber

export warehouses in Suva

Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011

Traders claimed they could deliver

ONE TONNE (1,000 Kg)

of DRIED Shark FIN per month

Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji

Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011Background: Over 100 bags, most of Beche de Mer (Sea Cucumber) with

about 35 bags of shark fins.Foreground: 3 piles of shark fins with

about 3,000 fins in each pile.

Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji

About 9,000 fins, (= 2,250 sharks),

plus 35 bags

Black Tip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus

Oceanic Whitetip Shark Carcharhinus longimanus

Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas

Species found in Shark Fin Warehouse in Fiji:Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011.

Oceanic Whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)Status: Vulnerable*

Blue sharks (Prionace glauca)Status: Near Threatened*

Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis)Status: Near Threatened*

* According to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

Photo taken: 29 March 2011, Suva, Fiji

Sharks Fins Drying in Fiji Warehouse

The Fiji Shark Sanctuary CampaignSupporting the Fiji Government’s initiative to

create a shark sanctuary across the entire Fiji EEZ,

a first for the South Pacific.

Campaign Aims:• An end to the trade in shark products, and to all

commercial shark fishing in Fiji• Declaration of the Fijian EEZ as a shark sanctuary, where

all shark species are protected

Research into Shark Densities, Habitats & Nurseries

Supplying data to Government to strengthen conservation initiatives

Media campaigns

Securing support from Traditional Leaders, the General Public, the Tourism Industry, & Conservation Organisations

Methods of the Campaign

Awareness RaisingMedia articles, District meetings,

School visits, Posters,

30 Minute Documentary

Logo for T shirts, Stickers Etc

Taking part in the Fiji Shark CampaignSupport enforcement of shark fishing ban

Posters: Please display prominently

Communities and Organisations: send Letters of Support to CORAL, PO Box 2558, Govt Bdgs, Suva, or Email hsykes@coral.org

Individuals: Sign the pledge at www.facebook.com/FijiSharkDefenders

The choiceis ours

Maroroya na Qio e Viti

Save the Sharks of

Fiji