Asia's demand for shark fins threatens Colombian species

Asian consumers prize the shark fins for use in making status-symbol soups and 450 grams of fin can fetch $300 (9,800 baht). Some shark-fin soups are sold for as much as $90 a bowl in the countries where the dish is most popular: Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

The Colombian-flagged vessel was arrested 18 nautical miles from Malpelo Island, a Unesco natural world heritage site off Colombia's Pacific coastline.

It was crammed with the fins of endangered sharks including hammerheads, silkies, oceanics, white fins, black fins, fox sharks and reef sharks.

Authorities arrested the crew on board and impounded the boat.

Cartels led by Japanese and Colombians are said to be behind the big business of shark fins in the Colombian Pacific.

''The Asians control the routes and the markets, and they intimidate the local fishermen and distributors who are paid a pittance per kilo,'' about $30, said a Colombian official with the Environmental Crimes Investigation Group, who asked not to be identified.

Biologist Sandra Bessudo, who leads the independent Malpelo Foundation, said the illegal fishing situation was so critical that a species believed unique to the waters around the sanctuary, the sol-rayo or ragged-tooth shark (Odontaspis ferox), was in danger of dying out.

The foundation says that in 2003 alone, more than 13 tons of shark fins were exported to Hong Kong, the equivalent of 67,000 dead sharks. And an average of 350 ships, mostly from Japan, Taiwan, Ecuador and Mexico, fish for the prize in Colombian waters.

''There just is no doubt that the shark population has declined considerably in Colombian waters in recent years,'' said Andres Navia, director of the non-governmental group Squalus that is fighting for protection of those sharks. ''We are calling on authorities to protect those that are still alive; it is an extremely urgent matter.''

Sharks are not the only group under threat, by any stretch, in Colombia.

Marlins, large turtles and mollusks also are in danger.

Julia Miranda, director of Colombia's natural parks, said that after illegal drugs, weapons trafficking and kidnapping, the unlawful trade in animal species moved the largest amount of dirty money in the South American country.

Fishing is banned in the Malpelo wildlife sanctuary, an area which sprawls over 8,575 sq km. The area is also a sanctuary for birds, and is a diving paradise.

For more information on sharks and shark fins, see:
http://www.answers.com/topic/shark-s-fin
http://www.worldandi.com/newhome/public/2004/january/nspub.asp

species a group into which animals, plants, etc., that are able to breed with each other and produce healthy young are divided detained arrested; held by the police extinction a situation in which an animal, plant or way of life stops existing status-symbol of a possession or purchase that people think shows their high social status and wealth fetch to be sold for nautical miles a unit for measuring distance at sea, equal to 1852 meters world heritage site a natural or man-man place that is recognized as having great international importance and is therefore protected crammed packed; full of things or people

impound (of the police, courts of law, etc.) to take something away from someone so they cannot use it cartel a group of separate companies that agree to increase profits by fixing prices and not competing with each other intimidate to frighten or threaten someone so that they will do want you want them to do pittance a very small amount of money identified named critical serious, uncertain and possibly dangerous unique being the only one of its kind; very special or unusual sanctuary an area where wild birds or animals are protected

declined became fewer urgent that needs to be dealt with or happen immediately by any stretch (of the imagination) used to stress or emphasize something, in this case that it is true that sharks are not the only endangered group of animals kidnapping taking someone away illegally, especially in order to get money or some other demand banned not allowed sprawl to cover a wide area paradise a place that is perfect for a particular activity or kind of person