conservation organization called the Sabah Shark Protection Association and conducts regular education and conservation activities with local people as well as tourists. These operators recognize that sharks are worth far more alive than dead and if divers want to see sharks, sharks must be protected. An economic study by the Australia Institute of Marine Science estimates the value of one Sabah reef shark to be worth $815,000 US to the local economy through dive tourism services. This value mirrors a similar study in the island nation of Palau placing the value of one shark to the island economy at $1.9 million in its lifetime. Recognizing the vast importance of sharks and other marine species to the longevity of the countries natural resources, Palau announced itself a shark sanctuary eliminating all killing of sharks, and in 2015 declared 80% of its waters off limits to fishing. It is hoped that Malaysia will follow this example before it is too late.
Divers alarmed at local fishermen harvesting reef sharks on Mabul and other islands are also spreading images and messages across social media and petitioning the Malaysian government to protect sharks and rays.
Recognizing the value of sharks and healthy reefs to the Sabah economy, the Minister of the Sabah Tourism, Culture and the Environment, Mr. Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun helped pass a law prohibiting shark fishing in Sabah State waters in 2015. However, the Federal government denies there is a shark fishing problem in the country and declined to support the state law, and allows sharks harvest in federal waters to be landed and sold in Sabah. Other Malaysian states have reported a decline in shark populations, and many endangered species like hammerhead, saw sharks and the endemic Borneo shark may go extinct without increased protection.
Work by local conservation organizations including WWF- Malaysia and a newly formed collaboration of NGOs and businesses called the Sabah Shark Protection Association are pushing for increased shark and ray protection in the region. Working with Sabah Parks, Minister Masidi and the Federal fisheries agency, the aim is to increase protection and enforcement of important areas and stop shark fishing to allow recovery of impacted populations. The group is also dedicated to reducing shark fin consumption and trade of fins and gill rakers in the country.
Mr. Masidi is championing the shark conservation and marine protection cause, and has agreed to the group’s request to gazette 3 MPAs as shark sanctuaries in Sabah waters. It is
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