In the wake of growing global concern over decreasing shark
populations and degrading health of marine ecosystems, Humane Society
International India has petitioned leading airlines in India to end their role
in the international trade in shark fins. In their letters to the management of
leading Indian carriers – Jet Airways and Air India - HSI India has sought for
these airlines to institute a policy against shipment of shark fins. HSI’s
letters join an earlier petition led by WildlifeRisk and signed by over several
dozen groups around the world.
Research has repeatedly pointed to the fact that India is
the world’s second largest shark catching nation and one of the world’s
exporters of shark fins. Reports have further revealed that the shark fin trade
is today one of the leading contributors to the decimation of sharks globally.
Trade reports and undercover investigations have revealed that shark fins are
most commonly transported from India to places like Hong Kong, Dubai and China
as cargo on airlines.
N.G. Jayasimha, HSI India’s managing director, said: “As top
predators, sharks are important to the survival and maintenance of healthy
marine ecosystems. However, traders in India have found top dollar buyers and
lucrative markets in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries where shark
fins are in high demand. We encourage airline giants such as Jet Airways and
Air India to end the role they are playing in a trade that is harming these
keystone species.”
In June 2014, Etihad Airways, which holds a 24 percent
minority stake in Jet Airways, has also announced its decision to ban shark fin
as well as live primate shipments. HSI/ India hopes that Jet Airways shall
follow in the example of Etihad and declare a similar decision on its cargo
services in India.
The Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972, offers the
highest level of protection to ten species of sharks by listing them under
Schedule I. Further, the international trade in numerous other species is
regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to
which India is a signatory. “Owing to the fact that it is often difficult to
identify the species from the fins alone, trade in fins from protected shark
species is also rampant. Furthermore, traders are exploiting existing loopholes
in the listing of wildlife products as per customs regulations and are able to
effectively pass off fins for other permitted wildlife-based products,” says Jayasimha.
By adopting a policy against the transport of shark fins,
these airlines would be joining the internationally growing league of
environmentally conscious airlines such as Emirates, Philippines Airlines,
Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Qantas and Air New Zealand, all of whom have
made a public commitment to stop carrying shark fins.
No comments:
Post a Comment