Headline: Tonga Voyagers Call to Stop Shark Finning

Headline: Tonga Voyagers Call to Stop Shark Finning

Stop killing sharks for their fins in Tonga is the plea from Tonga’s voyaging society.

Kalauni ‘o Tonga Tonga Voyaging Society president Aunofo Havea says the society is horrified to discover shark finning is taking place in their local waters.

“To see shark fins displayed a local supermarket in Neiafu is heartbreaking,” says Havea. “We regard ourselves as guardians for these vulnerable species and this practice and trade must stop.

Yesterday Havea went to the supermarket and asked the owners to remove the fins.

“I asked them where they got the fins but they wouldn’t say. I also asked them to take them down and told them I would be returning to check they have taken them down.”

Kalauni ‘o Tonga is a national voyaging society is based in the Vava’u island group, where Neiafu harbour is located.

“I know we are not alone in our stance and we hope others will speak out to raise awareness and bring about change,” says Havea.

Pacific Voyagers, who are based in Auckland, New Zealand, also joined the call to stop shark finning in the Pacific.

Spokesman Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr says if people knew how millions of sharks were savagely killed each year for their fins and left to die, they would join the protest.

“We have to start thinking more about our environment and the lives of all species that are dependent on people to act responsibly.

“Everybody should be speaking out – we need to act now because otherwise shark finning and other sorts of species slaughter will become acceptable.”

Tonga does not yet have specific legislation protecting sharks from shark finning.

Sharks, along with dolphins, turtles and dugongs, have been identified as at-risk species in the Pacific.

Pacific Island nations, including the Cooks Islands, Palau, The Republic of Marshall Islands, have already started putting in place legal measures to protect sharks.

ENDS

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