Baby Hammer Head Sharks In Kata Fish Market.

[NomadJoe]

I am putting this here so that more than the chirping crickets in the diving forum will see it. Some good numbers to put in your phone if you care about this sort of thing.

Where to report the illegal sale of baby hammerhead sharks

Baby scalloped hammerhead sharks were recently discovered at the Kata fish market. These sharks are an endangered species.

Are there laws protecting these sharks in Thailand? If so, to whom can we report it?

Nomad Joe , Kata Beach

Thursday, June 28, 2012 10:47:12 AM

“According to Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment notification in 2010 scalloped hammerhead sharks are on a protected species list. It clearly states that fishing for, or possessing a protected species of fish is illegal. Next week, I will send the officers to inspect fish markets around the Kata area and will report the results back to the Gazette.

If you happen to see anyone who catches, keeps or tries to sell any protected marine animals, please report it to our office or the nearest police station. We can be contacted Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm at any of the following numbers: 081-537 0047, 081-173 1146, 076-39 3566.”

- Paitoon Panchaiyaphum, Director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Center (DMRC) office in Phuket

“I have investigated the jetty in Phuket and I found only a few baby scalloped hammerhead sharks that were accidentally caught in the fishermen’s nets. The fishermen will either take them back to sea or send them to the Fisheries Department. I haven’t seen or received any reports that they are being sold in the market. Thank you for informing me of the situation. I will report this information to the Chief of Fisheries Department and we will send officers from Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Department Bureau to inspect the area. You contact us by phone Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm on either 089-724 2159 or 076-212 460.”

- Narin Meewong, Officer of Phuket Fisheries Department.

http://www.phuketgaz...ils.asp?id=1314

Link to thread in Diving forum ---> http://www.thaivisa....ps-all-in-kata/

Edited July 26, 2012 by NomadJoe

[steelepulse]

Where are these baby hammerheads coming from? I've never seen a hammerhead diving in the waters around Phuket.

[LivinginKata]

Provocative/inflammatory posts removed. Bit of restraint here folks ....

[NomadJoe]

Where are these baby hammerheads coming from? I've never seen a hammerhead diving in the waters around Phuket.

Neither have I, nor have I ever heard of anyone that has in 11 years of diving here. One eplaination could be that hammerheads are largely pelagic meaning they spend a lot of time at open sea, not so much on the reefs which where we dive. Divers do see them in the Gulf occasionally, so it's always possible they are coming from there. You see in that other thread divers from Samui stating they see them in markets often there.

Scallopped hammerheads pups are born live 12-40 to a litter and huddle together after birth for some time. The hammerheads we see for sale at fish markets were likely caught through trawling/dragnetting. Trawling/dragnetting is a very controversial technique banned in many places due to the amount of bycatch it produces and devastation it causes to the ecosystem. It's like running a vacuum cleaner the size of a football field through the ocean catching anything in it's path, including at times, scuba divers. They often drag these nets along the bottom of the ocean destroying any life in their path. I have spent many hours underwater cutting these nets off of local dive sites. It's absolutely devastating to the ecosystem but unfortunatly the norm in Thai waters. If you look out at sea from just about anywhere in Phuket , you will probably see two fishing boats traveling in parallel with lines running into the water behind them. They are pair-trawling.

So if 12-40 are caught in a single trawlers net, which is likely, my guess it the pups will probably be disseminated to several different markets.

[Old Croc]

I've never seen hammerheads when diving and never caught one on a line, but would frequently see them on the surface in a lot of different places when boating. Sizes from 3' to12'.

I used to do a lot of fishing up the coast of Western Australia, particularly on Ningaloo Reef, and they were very common. Don't know the species.

They're obviously pelargic and I would agree the only way to catch the pups would be by trawling.

[MisterMan]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

[BOBBYTIN]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

only baby white tips, W.T F

[salavan]

im suprised this post has'nt been removed its bad for tourism

[NomadJoe]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

only baby white tips, W.T F

Not protected, unfortunately. IUCN lists them as "near threatened."

I popped in a couple places in Kata today. No hammerheads but did also find a shovelnose/guitar shark (actuallly a ray as it belongs to order rajiforms, but very closely related to sharks) in front of the restaurant next to Wine Connection in Kata. Listed as vulnerable/threatened but not protected.

Edited July 29, 2012 by NomadJoe

[NomadJoe]

im suprised this post has'nt been removed its bad for tourism

It is bad for tourism and unfortunately that is the way we have to present it to get any action. (I think your post may referencing the recent comments by police repeated numerous times that they must catch the Austrailian woman's murderers and "crackdown" on crime against foreigners because it's bad for tourism.)

But strictly speaking, the issue is not really tourism related, as the hammerheads don't go to tourists, they are caught by Thai's, sold by Thai's, and consumed by Thai's, as they have been for a millennium. The people catching them know very well it is illegal and know that if seen by foreigners there is a good chance of being reported. In the Thai fish markets there is less chance of that. This is also the reason why you no longer see shark fin soup openly advertised in tourist areas.

Edited July 29, 2012 by NomadJoe

[MisterMan]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

only baby white tips, W.T F

Yes as in ONLY BABY WHITES LIKE EVERY TIME I GO!!!! no hammerheads. I have actively gotten a few hotels to nix their shark fin Chinese New Year promotion and Thailand Tatler not to firggen promote it. Bangkok Post is horrific when it comes to promoting restaurants and Shark fin.

I don't approve. jeez. it was said with sarcasm.

I sent this photo to the local rag and PADI stuck it on their aware site but I sure did not see anyone translating any info into Thai.. If someone gives me some info I will pay to have it translated. I have a good translator in BKK.

Fck.. i didnt know the shovel nose was vulnerable threatened. I do know in over 1000 dives in the Similans I only saw it less then 5 times.

Ok send me an article and I will have it translated. Nice to see you last night to NJ....

Edited July 29, 2012 by MisterMan

[BOBBYTIN]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

only baby white tips, W.T F

Yes as in ONLY BABY WHITES LIKE EVERY TIME I GO!!!! no hammerheads. I have actively gotten a few hotels to nix their shark fin Chinese New Year promotion and Thailand Tatler not to firggen promote it. Bangkok Post is horrific when it comes to promoting restaurants and Shark fin.

I don't approve. jeez. it was said with sarcasm.

I sent this photo to the local rag and PADI stuck it on their aware site but I sure did not see anyone translating any info into Thai.. If someone gives me some info I will pay to have it translated. I have a good translator in BKK.

Fck.. i didnt know the shovel nose was vulnerable threatened. I do know in over 1000 dives in the Similans I only saw it less then 5 times.

Ok send me an article and I will have it translated. Nice to see you last night to NJ....

my misunderstanding,i live in khao lak,every night there are fishing boat light on the whole horizon,out towards the similans,i lived on phi phi many years,one of the biggest attractions was the black tips,and then divers would come on shore and see all the restaurants selling small ones,it was soul destroying.

[NomadJoe]

Thanks NJ

Just went to the market today only baby white tips and guitar sharks (shovel nose ray) no hammerhead. Putting the numbers in my phone book now.

attathcing the image to see people can why you posted...

only baby white tips, W.T F

Yes as in ONLY BABY WHITES LIKE EVERY TIME I GO!!!! no hammerheads. I have actively gotten a few hotels to nix their shark fin Chinese New Year promotion and Thailand Tatler not to firggen promote it. Bangkok Post is horrific when it comes to promoting restaurants and Shark fin.

I don't approve. jeez. it was said with sarcasm.

I sent this photo to the local rag and PADI stuck it on their aware site but I sure did not see anyone translating any info into Thai.. If someone gives me some info I will pay to have it translated. I have a good translator in BKK.

Fck.. i didnt know the shovel nose was vulnerable threatened. I do know in over 1000 dives in the Similans I only saw it less then 5 times.

Ok send me an article and I will have it translated. Nice to see you last night to NJ....

my misunderstanding,i live in khao lak,every night there are fishing boat light on the whole horizon,out towards the similans,i lived on phi phi many years,one of the biggest attractions was the black tips,and then divers would come on shore and see all the restaurants selling small ones,it was soul destroying.

The lights are squid boats. We see them stretching the horizon off Phuket every night too.

Soul destroying is right. Convincing a few sea food restaurants in Kata to remove shark fin from their menu is a small victory at least. Divers do this in tourist areas around the world so it will certainly help a little. The movement is catching on with a lot of the youth in China too, which is where most shark fins end up.

[insertcoins]

The new Chinese restaurant in Chalong, next to Wine Connection has shark fin soup on the menu.

I was under the impression shark fin soup was illegal in Thailand?

[NomadJoe]

The new Chinese restaurant in Chalong, next to Wine Connection has shark fin soup on the menu.

I was under the impression shark fin soup was illegal in Thailand?

Sadly not illegal, depending on the shark. Oddly enough I went to the same place 2 days ago. I let the staff know that selling shark fin was unacceptable and asked them to pass it on to their boss as to why I cannot eat there, which I am sure they won't. The place seems to be for package Chinese tourists or something, as the prices are just silly. 450B for sweet and sour pork? Yeah..no.

There are still quite a few restaurants around that carry shark fin soup and advertise it openly. Lots of pharmacies still carrying shark cartilage and squalene too. Sad.

[pagallim]

The place seems to be for package Chinese tourists or something, as the prices are just silly. 450B for sweet and sour pork? Yeah..no.

Doubt very much that they'll be seeing many of the Chinese tour trade, as they are typically into the 150-250 baht set menu, included in the tour price places.

[steelepulse]

That Chinese Restaurant is run by Russians, so maybe buses of Russians will be pulling up.

[stevenl]

The place seems to be for package Chinese tourists or something, as the prices are just silly. 450B for sweet and sour pork? Yeah..no.

Doubt very much that they'll be seeing many of the Chinese tour trade, as they are typically into the 150-250 baht set menu, included in the tour price places.

Even that is too much. Was at a moo gata place in Phuket Town last Saturday when a bus of Chinese pulled up. I would guess net price 80 Baht or something like that.

[Guest]

I let the staff know that selling shark fin was unacceptable and asked them to pass it on to their boss as to why I cannot eat there, which I am sure they won't.

I really like this. Even if there is no immediate change as changes happen slowly. If nobody ever steps forward and speaks their mind, changes will never happen for sure.

[NomadJoe]

I let the staff know that selling shark fin was unacceptable and asked them to pass it on to their boss as to why I cannot eat there, which I am sure they won't.

I really like this. Even if there is no immediate change as changes happen slowly. If nobody ever steps forward and speaks their mind, changes will never happen for sure.

Yeah but now that I hear it is Russian owned, there is about as much of a chance of getting them to stop selling it as there would be if it were Thai owned.

[Guest]

Yeah but now that I hear it is Russian owned, there is about as much of a chance of getting them to stop selling it as there would be if it were Thai owned.

Probably not in the next few years, but changes do happen. You and others who care about the issue are likely to say to the people we know not to dine in this restaurant.

http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/cathay-pacific-bans-sharks-fin-cargo-flights-867981

[NomadJoe]

Yeah but now that I hear it is Russian owned, there is about as much of a chance of getting them to stop selling it as there would be if it were Thai owned.

Probably not in the next few years, but changes do happen. You and others who care about the issue are likely to say to the people we know not to dine in this restaurant.

http://www.cnngo.com...-flights-867981

Yeah perhaps printing up some flyers (in Russian too) with into and handing them out like I know some NGO's have done is in order.

Edited September 21, 2012 by NomadJoe

[KarenBravo]

I think the Hammerheads are just a by-catch and could have been dead by the time the net/trawl was pulled in.

Throw them dead back into the sea, or sell them.? It's obvious which way the fishermen went.

[stevenl]

I think the Hammerheads are just a by-catch and could have been dead by the time the net/trawl was pulled in.

Throw them dead back into the sea, or sell them.? It's obvious which way the fishermen went.

Could be the case, which is again an indication that fishermen are using destructive techniques to catch their fish.

[NomadJoe]

I'm really bummed. Found these tonight at an Indian restaurant in Kata. Look about a week old. These were illegal to catch and sell even before the new protections agreed upon in last months CITES meeting in Bangkok.

[eezergood]

NO morals at all! Take the middle path my arse, when i confronted a fisherman about this I was told YOU FARANG buy them not THAI! if you dont buy then I wouldnt sell.

I am, of course, paraphrasing!

[McFarang]

I'm really bummed. Found these tonight at an Indian restaurant in Kata. Look about a week old. These were illegal to catch and sell even before the new protections agreed upon in last months CITES meeting in Bangkok.

Are you allowed to name the Restuarant so that we can boycott it and put on Facebook to let others know? This is unacceptable Thank You even if you PM me the name I can get the word out as our site reaches well over 100,000 daily.

[eezergood]

Was about 5 months ago - Just a small place down on the Jetty, next time i am in the area I shall let you all know

[NomadJoe]

I checked the Kata fish market suspecting they might have bought them there. Sure enough, two more. Will be making some calls now. Will update the outcome.

Edited April 19, 2013 by NomadJoe

[Guest]

Did you call (again) to PG or did they checked the discussion here?

This was just pushed up on their FB feed.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=1314