The anti-shark finning campaigners in Tonga, ‘Aunofo Havea and Tongan US resident ‘Eseta Schaaf posted and shared on Facebook this morning June 9 an image featuring shark fins that recently hanging up to dry in a shelter in Vava’u to have been disappeared.
The shark fins belonged to a Chinese-owner of a Supermarket in Neiafu and a store woman confirmed they “were acquired from local fishermen and divers”.
Kalauni o Tonga Voyaging Society president ‘Aunofo Havea last week called to “stop killing sharks for their fins in Tonga” and asked the Chinese owner to take the fins down.
It was not clear whether the removal of the fins was because of the request from the Voyager’s President or it was for processing purpose.
“Let's make sure they didn't take it to their backyard instead,” Ms Schaaf, President of Keep Vava'u Green Organisation says on Facebook.
The campaign which was believed to have had an impact on the shark finning operater in Vava'u, has been applauded by anti-shark finning activists and conservationists saying it was “a great and Excellent conservation work”.
There is no law in Tonga to protect finning of sharks, a practice described by many as “unjust” and “inhumane”.
Tonga’s shark finning episode emerged as the European Union agreed on Thursday to tighten an existing ban on "shark finning".
EU says new laws have been in place and they "require fishermen to land all sharks with their fins “naturally attached.”
They will also “forbid shark finning by all vessels in EU waters and by all EU-registered vessels anywhere in the world, a move its supporters believe will put pressure on countries where the practice is common”.
