CITES
Thailand set to oppose protection of sharks and manta rays
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will be juggling several hot-potato wildlife issues as it hosts the 16th Conference of the Parties to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which starts on Sunday and runs through March 14 in Bangkok.

While Thailand struggles to defend its trade in ivory and crocodile skin, the CITES meeting will bring proposals to protect seven species of sharks and manta rays.

"If the proposal is accepted, the breeding of some ornamental fishes will be affected," said Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, deputy chief of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

A farm-bred short-tail stingray can fetch up to Bt30,000.

Fisheries Department director-general Wimol Jantrarotai said Thailand would oppose the measure on manta rays. "The protection will hurt us. We have imported breeder fishes from Latin America and exported our bred fishes to the Middle East," he said.

Regarding sharks, Wimol expressed doubts about a report that Thailand was among the top shark-catching countries.

The Pew Environmental Group ranks Thailand in 12th place, based on reported shark catches between 2000 and 2009. Thailand reported catching 9,025 tonnes of sharks, rays and chimaeras to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2010. "I think there are some inaccuracies," Wimol said, explaining that the sharks might have been caught in fishing nets by accident.

Thai laws had already protect the great white and elephant sharks.

The shark trade is fuelled by demand for shark-fin soup, and while Hong Kong is the largest market, shark-fin soup is a delicacy found in many restaurants in Thailand.


-- The Nation 2013-03-06

We wouldn't want anything getting in the way of making money would we? Gulf of Thailand is heavily over fished.

We wouldn't want anything getting in the way of making money would we? Gulf of Thailand is heavily over fished.

You could say that about every country, and every industry. This is a world greed problem, not just Thailand.

"Thai laws had already protect the great white and elephant sharks." Thai laws protecting anything is a preposterous statement.

We wouldn't want anything getting in the way of making money would we? Gulf of Thailand is heavily over fished.

You could say that about every country, and every industry. This is a world greed problem, not just Thailand.

Read the headline again and tell me, what relevance your post has, please!

Here ...I help you: Thailand set to oppose protection of sharks and manta rays

We wouldn't want anything getting in the way of making money would we? Gulf of Thailand is heavily over fished.

Yes.

Can't wait to see the Fisheries Department, Coastguard and police do their job and actually stop the overfishing, while halting the trade in trafficked people who often man the fishing boats.

Can't wait to see the mafia and influential people with their vested interests being arrested, tried and imprisoned for their involvement in these illegal activities.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by arthurboy

"Thai laws had already protect the great white and elephant sharks." Thai laws protecting anything is a preposterous statement.

Here here

A number of Thai, Burmese and Indonesian fisherman have been caught in Australian waters fishing ilegally for sharks. They cut off the fins and dump the bodies to let the animals die a slow painful death (drown). This is all to feed the chinese market where the fins are in high demand and bring high prices. At least in Australia fishermen catch selected species such as gummies or school sharks and the whole body is used (flake) The majority of the species are protected.

A farm-bred short-tail stingray can fetch up to Bt30,000.

Fisheries Department director-general Wimol Jantrarotai said Thailand would oppose the measure on manta rays. "The protection will hurt us. We have imported breeder fishes from Latin America and exported our bred fishes to the Middle East," he said.

What has breeding short tail stingrays got to do with Manta rays they are a completely different species?

Would take a hell of a big tank to hold a Manta and anyway they eat large quantities of plankton so there would be no way to feed them.

What really stinks is cutting off shark fins then throwing the sharks back alive.

In NZ there is a law (enforced) that any sharks caught and not released alive must be brought in alive and recorded with the rest of the catch.

typical reaction from Thailand, they have no concern with with the decimation of any species as long as they can make money from it. You cant even catch a decent fish or even get a bite/follow up at places thet should have good fish life because thais have decimated the entire stock of fish. They keep everything they catch even fish 2" long, in fact they specifically target them. Why would anyone expect them to ban the trade in shark fins or manta rays, they simply refuse to accept they are destroying the oceans like all the other asian countries. Japan has a lot to answer for, the tuna industry, whales, shark fin etc, etc and the thais just see the money they can make from supplying them.

Shark fin soup is a special meal in Chinese Culture, especially in the Thai Chinese circles, in Thailand Just a hint hint....

Shark fin soup is a special meal in Chinese Culture, especially in the Thai Chinese circles, in Thailand Just a hint hint....

Can fetch up to $150 AUD a bowl so with this sort of money to be made some people are not going to put thier lines away until the last shark has been caught

Shark fin soup is a special meal in Chinese Culture, especially in the Thai Chinese circles, in Thailand Just a hint hint....

Uncivilised morons

A lot of Chinese foods, 'medicines', sex aids, bear bile are borne out of myths and the most wicked cruelty, that has nothing to do with culture. Consequently they continue to show that they are one of the most most barbaric nation's and protected species or not they will kill, eat, drink and wear anything to get instant gratification. Add to this the ever increasing affluence and the market will only go up and I just hope along with their Russian allies, they find somewhere different to move into.

" Thai laws had already protected the great white and elephant sharks". What a lovely token gesture considering where these species inhabit. And it aint Thailand.

Great white distribution map followed by elephant/ghost shark below.

.

Edited March 6, 201313 yr by coma

Shark fin soup is a special meal in Chinese Culture, especially in the Thai Chinese circles, in Thailand Just a hint hint....

Uncivilised morons

And it's got virtually no taste and merely used for the consistency and status. The consistency can be replicated but the status, all important to Chinese and Thai Chinese. Status is everything. Look at me I am a big swinging you know what and we eat shark's fin soup family style.

"If the proposal is accepted, the breeding of some ornamental fishes will be affected," said Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, deputy chief of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

A farm-bred short-tail stingray can fetch up to Bt30,000.

Fisheries Department director-general Wimol Jantrarotai said Thailand would oppose the measure on manta rays. "The protection will hurt us. We have imported breeder fishes from Latin America and exported our bred fishes to the Middle East," he said.

Is the Fisheries Deparment director a complete imbecile or is he purposely misleading the public? How can a man in charge of fisheries not know the difference between a stingray, a farm bred species at that, and a manta ray?

As for the sharks, yes, I guess Thailand is not a top "producer" of shark fins, it may be because they have been scoured clean off Thai seas already so THAT'S THE <deleted>**** REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED.

I hope Mr. Jantrarotai chokes on his next shark fin dish.

When the fisheries are exhausted, and the fishermen cannot catch anymore fish

The thai government will then have had a plan to protect the fisheries for quite some time.

I've only been in TL for a short time, but am i getting how things work around here?

"If the proposal is accepted, the breeding of some ornamental fishes will be affected," said Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, deputy chief of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

A farm-bred short-tail stingray can fetch up to Bt30,000.

Fisheries Department director-general Wimol Jantrarotai said Thailand would oppose the measure on manta rays. "The protection will hurt us. We have imported breeder fishes from Latin America and exported our bred fishes to the Middle East," he said.

Is the Fisheries Deparment director a complete imbecile or is he purposely misleading the public? How can a man in charge of fisheries not know the difference between a stingray, a farm bred species at that, and a manta ray?

As for the sharks, yes, I guess Thailand is not a top "producer" of shark fins, it may be because they have been scoured clean off Thai seas already so THAT'S THE <deleted>**** REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED.

I hope Mr. Jantrarotai chokes on his next shark fin dish.

Love it !

The shark fin industry is disgusting. Whether or not Thai fishermen are catching large or small amounts of sharks and throwing them back in the sea to die slowly without their fins, the fact remains: Bangkok is rife with dozens of shops which sell fins and s.f. soup. Disgusting. Anything less than a severe crackdown on dealers in shark fins, including large fines and jail time, is yet another failing of Yingluck and her Chinese-Thai administrators and/or the re-elected governor (who administers that stuff?).

Thai laws had already protect the great white and elephant sharks.

Also, White Elephants and Loan Sharks.

Those pesky farang. Our PM just promised to do something or another about the ivory trade and now you want more?

Those pesky farang. Our PM just promised to do something or another about the ivory trade and now you want more?

Yea your right, save a couple of elephants and the next thing you know the world wants you to help save all endangered species. Budha would be turning over in his grave.

ASEAN seems as bad as Europe... rules for everybody, in theory, but exeptions for whatever member...

yes, let's continue to catch sharks, cut of the fin and throw them back to die...

same religion that is not willing to do something about the thousands of lice ridden soi dogs (just put them to sleep, they are a danger to everybody)

The shark fin industry is disgusting. Whether or not Thai fishermen are catching large or small amounts of sharks and throwing them back in the sea to die slowly without their fins, the fact remains: Bangkok is rife with dozens of shops which sell fins and s.f. soup. Disgusting. Anything less than a severe crackdown on dealers in shark fins, including large fines and jail time, is yet another failing of Yingluck and her Chinese-Thai administrators and/or the re-elected governor (who administers that stuff?).

Have to agree with you. But would like to add that the present government is no more guilty than all preceding governments.

As for prosecuting the dealers in shark fins I presume you are including the shops that sell the fins and the restaurants that sell the soup. Stop the sellers and you will effectively stop the killing.

Animal species which hurt humans can be killed. That's the mentality. That's where we live folks.

A lot of Chinese foods, 'medicines', sex aids, bear bile are borne out of myths and the most wicked cruelty, that has nothing to do with culture. Consequently they continue to show that they are one of the most most barbaric nation's and protected species or not they will kill, eat, drink and wear anything to get instant gratification. Add to this the ever increasing affluence and the market will only go up and I just hope along with their Russian allies, they find somewhere different to move into.

Mars, or Jupiter, I hope.

People seem to be overlooking the fact that the article is written by the Nation.

They could well be dragging all sharks and Manta rays into Thailand's objection to a farm raised sting ray.

Remember that most Nation headlines generally identify in a general way what the article is really about and never have any research to see if what they are printing is true.

Just saying.

I am not a fan of any kind for the present government but I find it hard to believe they are against protection of all the wild sharks and manta rays. Especially when the Nation is the source.

Maybe they should issue alternatives such as more farm breeding/ hatcheries etc. Just another way of the West (U.S) trying to push ideals onto other cultures. Because, if you are not buying beef like they (U.S. beef industry) are forcing the Koreans to do then you are not civilized.

I enjoy shark fin soup, along with many other Chinese dishes.

All of your arguments, and future posts could be said about the beef and poultry industry as well.

I think the key is to have balance, and that's why educating those in the industry from consumer to producer is so important...

Baffling!!!