SUNSHINE STORIES

Win a chance to dive in the beautiful waters of Sabah, with its astounding array of beautiful islands abundant with coral reefs and marine life. All of its beauty is possible because of the existence of sharks, which keep the ecosystem healthy and in check. Participate in the 'Pledge to Dive Contest' and collect the highest number of pledges from your family and friends to say no to the trade and consumption of shark fin and shark-related products in Malaysia; and stand a ch ance to win a RM2,000 voucher for any services/courses provided by Scuba Junkie Dive Centers in Sabah. (Voucher valid till 30 June 2017). Only one winner will be announced, will it be you? For more information and registration, visit:  myfinmylife.com/pledgetodive/ Contest ends 30 November 2016 Contact my.finmylife@wwf.org.my for any queries. Source: https://www.facebook.com/wwfmy/ 

by Neila Maryam.  Every morning you have the Sun pierce through the curtains to welcome a new day. Your vagabond limbs, lost between the warmth of the sheets lets you feel the Godly sensation of touch. Meanwhile, the adventurous shark roams through the blue blankets of the sea guided by his noble limbs. But by the first sight of light through the vague ripple of the water, the silent brush of the tide becomes a loud prayer in fear of another reaping day. Above waters, diligent men march towards the edge of the infinite sea. A mass dumping of dead sharks is a symbol of celebration as their daily bread is measured off the weight of their buckets full of the severed Shark fins. While they parade back to shore, the horrified shark witnesses an unceremonious funeral of its own mother. One day you will wake up in fear of devastation as the cycle shifts towards world’s greatest predator; human beings. At the point when sharks are gone, our fisheries stock, marine biological commu...

30 September 2016, Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Shark Protection Association (SSPA) is in full support of Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun’s recent statement on overfishing, particularly by foreign vessels that are encroaching into Sabah waters. SSPA Chairman Aderick Chong said sharks, rays and turtles are at an increasingly high risk of being wiped out by these foreign boats. “While encroachment by foreign fishing vessels is a major concern in Sabah waters, overfishing is also affecting our fisheries caused by overcapacity, use of non-selective fishing gear and, of course, the high demand of seafood as compared to other sources of protein,” he said. The current state of fisheries in Malaysia is unhealthy, with steadily increasing fishing vessels chasing the same limited marine resources and marine fish stocks are already over-exploited. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 69% of the ocean's commercially targete...

(c) WWF-Malaysia / Eric Madeja ~ My Fin My Life Campaign ~ 14 September 2016, Petaling Jaya:  Do Malaysians really care about sharks? Outside of Steven Spielberg made or inspired films, or wedding banquet pièce de ré·sis·tance (main dish, or, perhaps “I can’t resist this piece”), how do we look at these magnificent creatures? Apart from encounters shielded by glass thicker than the Great Wall of China, Malaysians emotional involvement with sharks has been mostly recreational or gastronomical. This is very frightening circumstance, not for us, but for the sharks...and ultimately the very ecological cycle of this beautiful planet. Which also means that mankind can and stands a very good chance of going the way of the dinosaurs. This prospect currently looks good. Malaysia has 63 species of sharks in its waters. Out of these 63 species, only the whale shark is protected under the Fisheries Act 1985. They are top predators that keep ecosystems in balance. They can be found in near...