The forum
Day 2 dedicated participants
Day 2 featured a high-level event where presentations made
by a number of senior Government figures and NGOs, followed by a facilitated dialogue to discuss the evaluate challenges, main issues and explore solutions.
The event started with a short film showed to convey the
key messages and the outcomes of a dedicated event that held by the organiser in Semporna, Borneo. This followed by a presentatation from NGOs and Government officers.
The member of Panelists are:
- Mr. Lawrence Kissol, Assistant
Director (Marine Resource Management), Department of
Fisheries Sabah. - Dr. Jamili Nais, Director, Sabah
Parks. - Mr. Steven Kwek, Widegrowth
Marine Products. - Dr. Nicholas Pilcher, Marine
Research Foundation. - Shantini Guna Rajan, WWF-
Malaysia
Among the topics that were thorougly discussed are concerns on the difficulty to impose a complete ban on sharks as they could still be found in their catch. It's very hard to ban fishermen to understand or to change their habbits and put into their mind that these sharks and rays are protected species by the Law. For them its considered food and source of income.
The forum also touched on the need for responsible tourism standards, the need for a shark consevation areas and the high income derived from shark fishing.
The forum has brought an eye opener to participants on the need to protect the sharks and rays in Malaysia.