Sharks India – NetAP | Network for Animal Protection

The marine ecosystem depends on the continued existence of sharks. They are at the top of the food chain in our oceans and keep the populations of other fish stocks in balance.

There are around 500 species of shark. The smallest representatives are only around 20 centimetres long, while the largest, the whale sharks, are up to 14 meters long. They are masters of adaptability and have adapted to almost every habitat in the sea. Whether in the Arctic Ocean or in the tropics, you can find representatives of this fascinating species everywhere.

Sharks have played a key role in the marine ecosystem for millions of years, but unfortunately their populations are becoming increasingly endangered. Many subspecies are already on the IUCN Red List because humans are hunting them mercilessly, driving them to the brink of extinction.

Fins & Hands – the shark protection programme in the Bay of Bengal

NetAP has been active in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India for many years. Together with our local long-term partner VSPCA, we are working on numerous programs to improve the living conditions of cows, cats, dogs, birds and turtles, among others. The successful protection program for the olive ridley turtle drew our attention to the problem of sharks, which are also caught off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

Problems

Larger companies are increasingly specializing in so-called finning. This involves cutting off the fins of captured sharks while they are still alive. The still-living animal is then thrown back into the sea, where it sinks to the bottom and dies. Without fins, a shark can no longer move, but movement is necessary to be able to breathe. An agonizing suffocation process begins, which can take several days.
Local fishermen mainly catch young sharks to offer them as whole animals at the local fish markets. However, sharks have a very slow reproduction rate. They become sexually mature at the age of ten at the earliest. Some species do not even reach reproductive maturity until they are 25 to 30 years old. Many species also only have offspring every two or three years. The gestation period can last from three months to two years, after which the shark gives birth to between one and thirty young, depending on the species. A caught young shark earns the seller at the fish market 100 rupees, which is equivalent to around 1.50 Swiss francs, depending on the exchange rate. In other words, CHF 1.50 for the fact that a shark was torn out of the important marine cycle before it could ensure the survival of its species.
Existing laws are not formulated clearly enough and are not enforced. Fishermen often do not even know that their catch is a protected species.

Our mission

The new project launched by the VSPCA and NetAP aims to protect the sharks off the coast of Visakhapatnam. We are primarily focusing on education to show fishermen that they are putting their own livelihoods at risk by hunting sharks, as the extinction of this species will have a negative impact on the rest of the fish population.

The program started on 1 April 2018 at the port of Visakhapatnam. The Asian Marine Conservation Association and the city’s largest fish exporter have already pledged their support.

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