14 DAY TRIAL // Just recently, Garuda Indonesia agreed to get behind efforts to protect the world's remaining shark population and banned people from using its aircraft to transport either shark fins, or other shark products.
The airline, which happens to be the Indonesia's flag carrier, did not decide to issue this ban all on its own. On the contrary, it appears that campaigns organized by green group World Wildlife Fund – Indonesia are at least partly responsible for the airline's change of policy.
Mongabay tells us that, according to information released by the Indonesian government, the country exported some 434 tons of shark fins in 2012 alone. Estimates say that these shipments were worth some $6 million (€4.42 million).
This means that, for the time being, Indonesia is one of the most prolific shark fin and shark products exporters in the world.
Conservationists working with the World Wildlife Fund say that, of said 434 tons, 36 were flown out of the country by Garuda Indonesia aircraft.
What's more, they argue that, until the ban was instituted, transporting this much shark fins and shark products was common practice for the airline.
Commenting on Garuda Indonesia's decision to ban the use of its aircraft to fly shark fins and shark products out of the country, Nazir Foead with World Wildlife Fund – Indonesia said that, “Their policy to cease transporting shark fin products is a positive step that should generate further momentum in the shark conservation movement.”
The conservationist also labeled the ban a “major step forward to reducing the global market for shark products.”
Reports issued earlier this year say that 100 million sharks are caught and killed by fishermen yearly. Most of the fins taken from these animals are shipped to East Asia, where they are used to make soup or other delicacies.
Conservationists warn that, all things considered, the number of sharks that are butchered on a yearly basis far exceeds sustainability levels. Hence, about one third of the shark species presently inhabiting the planet's seas and oceans risk going extinct in the not so distant future.