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| In this file picture taken on January 2, 2013 shark fins drying in the sun cover the roof of a factory building in Hong Kong. (AFP Photo/Antony Dickson) |
The World
Wildlife Fund-Indonesia praised the nation’s flagship carrier Garuda-Indonesia
on Friday for banning the transportation of shark fins aboard all flights.
The blanket
embargo, effective on Oct. 8, has Garuda joining a growing list of
international airlines taking a stance against the destructive practice. Air
New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Emirates Airlines, Fiji Airways and Korean Air are
among the carriers to ban the transport of shark fins, the statement read.
“WWF-Indonesia
commends this move by Garuda Indonesia,” Nazir Foead, conservation director for
WWF-Indonesia, said. “Their policy to cease transporting shark fin products is
a positive step that should generate further momentum in the shark conservation
movement.”
The
airline’s commitment represents a major step in curbing the global trade of
shark fins. Garuda previously transported some 36 tons of shark fins a year,
WWF-Indonesia said. Indonesia is the world’s leading source of shark fins —
which are used as the main ingredient in a popular, and expensive, Chinese
soup.
The
practice has grabbed the attention of conservations as global shark populations
decline.
WWF-Indonesia
has launched a “Save Our Sharks,” campaign and is working with the Ministry of
Marine and Fisheries to work on drafting a national shark conservation plan.
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