Booming trade in Shark Fin products in Southern Thailand

As the stress placed on worldwide shark populations reaches critical levels due to the demand for shark fin soup in Asian culture, a very sad story unfolded in the Southern Thai city of Hat Yai.

Whilst spending a couple of days in the city on a recent break, instructor Woody Kennedy and Divemaster Wendy Lish came across numerous Chinese stores in the city selling shark products, particularly shark fins.

Although it's not entirely unexpected to find shark products for sale in an Asian city, the shocking aspect of this discovery was not only the sheer scale of the market, but the species being targeted to feed the demand (actually, it's more likely that all local species are fished indiscriminately).

It's unlikely that shark fin soup is considered a delicacy amongst the Thai people of Hat Yai, however as a popular holiday destination for Malaysians due to it's close proximity to the Malaysian border, the likelihood is that this market is catering to wealthy Chinese Malaysians. It's also possible that many of these products are bought here and taken back across the border.

Woody and Wendy decided to record some of what they found during their stay in Hat Yai.

In this footage, it's clear that amongst the fins from numerous unidentifiable species on sale are those from the majestic Whale Shark (Rhincodon Typus) which is listed on Appendix II of CITES* and also Zebra Sharks (Stegostoma Fasciatum)** which are listed on the IUCN List of Threatened Species

*Description of CITES Appendix II

The species appearing on Appendix II are not yet threatened by extinction, but will become so if their trade, or any products made from them, are not subjected to strong regulations. International trade with species on Appendix II is only permitted with export permits or reexport certificates. No import permits are required. Permits and certificates are only granted when the appropriate authorities are sufficiently sure that certain conditions, primarily the survival of the species in freedom, are fulfilled.

** The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma Fasciatum) is often incorrectly known as the Leopard Shark.

For more information on how to get involved in the ongoing fight to protect the world's largest fish, click here for information on the Ecocean Whale Shark Project.