PETA Honors Former President Arroyo and Son for Proposing Shark Fin Ban
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia has sent flowers to former President and current Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her son, Rep. Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo, to commend them for recently coauthoring and filing House Bill 174, which, if passed, would ban the sale of shark and stingray parts throughout the country. The ban would also make the purchase, possession, and transport of any byproducts of these endangered species illegal. The proposed bill even has provisions that would make accidental killing or injury of the animals illegal as well as require that all animals who are caught accidentally be released immediately into the sea unharmed.
Humans kill nearly 100 million sharks and billions of other sea animals each year. Overfishing by “sport” and commercial fishers seeking shark fins and cartilage has undoubtedly put shark populations in peril. These fishers have also endangered swimmers and surfers by throwing bait into the water to draw sharks closer to the shore.
The Philippines is known to export shark fins to countries where it is illegal to hunt these sea creatures. Many compassionate Filipinos are concerned that Sorsogon, home to many endangered sharks, is fast becoming notorious for the mass slaughter of these animals. Photos of this massacre are already all over the Internet. Such cruelty would no doubt dampen the Department of Tourism’s recently launched plans to pitch the Philippines as a country of beauty and natural splendor.
“While sharks aren’t particularly cuddly, they need our protection too,” says PETA Asia Vice President of International Operations Jason Baker. “The former president and her son are setting an example for all by asserting that there is simply no justification for pulling sharks out of the water, cutting off their fins, and then throwing them mercilessly back into the sea.”
Of course, shark fin fishing is only one of the problems associated with today’s fishing industry. Commercial fishing nets often scoop up everything in their path, destroying precious coral reefs and damaging ecosystems. Overfishing is also one of the top causes of fish depletion. Studies indicate that by 2048, the world’s oceans will be virtually fish-free. Fish flesh can contain toxic chemicals, including cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic. These contaminants can cause health problems ranging from kidney damage and impaired mental development to cancer. The best thing that anyone can do for fish, the environment, and their health is to adopt a vegetarian diet.
For more information, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.