Sabah government probes case of butchered sharks

KOTA KINABALU: The state government will approach dive instructors and tourism players in Mabul and Sipadan islands off the Semporna district for an explanation on butchered sharks found in Sabah waters.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said they would be asked to explain and shed light on what actually led to the butchered sharks.

“We want to know who killed and discarded the sharks in such a way and why,” she said, adding that authorities would also be asked to establish whether a crime had been committed.

Tourist Gareth Jones recorded a video of the butchered hammerhead sharks on the seabed while diving in Mabul and shared it on Facebook.

The video has gone viral and since garnered more than 5,700 views.

Jones had been to Mabul many times to enjoy the beautiful reefs and marine creatures.

“To see such sights was very shocking for me and my dive buddies,” he said when contacted via Facebook.

Jones said sharks like the hammerheads were a huge tourist attraction, especially for divers like himself.

“Killing them would damage the economy,” he said.

On Facebook, the video had garnered expressions of dismay from people, including Tourism Malaysia Sabah.

“We condemn this appalling act of some irresponsible individuals/ people and hope they will be caught soon by the authority,” it said, thanking Jones for sharing the video.

On Sunday, Sabah Shark Protection Association chairman Aderick Chong said that he suspected sharks were targeted and hunted for their fins at these islands but had their heads cut off to avoid identification of species.

Hammerhead sharks have been proposed to be listed as protected but it is unclear how the implementation process is going.

We condemn this appalling act of some irresponsible individuals/people and hope they will be caught soon by the authority.

Tourism Malaysia Sabah