The document discusses establishing Fiji as a shark sanctuary by banning commercial shark fishing. It notes that sharks have existed for over 400 million years and help maintain marine ecosystem balance. However, up to 73 million sharks are killed annually for their fins, threatening many populations. While some sharks are caught as bycatch in Fiji, others are now targeted, with a warehouse observed processing about 9,000 fins monthly. The campaign aims to protect all 58 shark species in Fiji's waters by ending the shark trade and declaring Fiji's waters a shark sanctuary.

1. The King of the Sea:
Making Fiji a Shark Sanctuary
1

2. Sharks have existed in the worlds oceans
for around 400 million years.
(Before, during and after Dinosaurs)
Until recently, nothing hunted them.

3. Sharks help maintain balanced, healthy
marine resources by controlling fish and
other marine life under them.

4. Sharks do not give birth until they are 7 to 12
years old, and then only usually have 1 to 10
babies. This means that if they are fished,
their numbers drop very quickly.
Most other kinds of fish breed when they are
much younger, and have hundreds of babies,
so they are not so badly affected by fishing.

5. Dakuwaqa
Fijian people have strong traditional
links to sharks.
Dakuwaqa is still respected in Fijian
mythology, as he protects his
people from harm in the sea.
His image survives in the art of new Fijian generations

6. Shark Tourism Values in Fiji
Many tourists come to
Fiji to dive
(12%), snorkel (60%)
or swim
Tourists love to see
sharks!
96% of divers 
sharks in top 3 things
to see
42% of divers 
sharks THE most
important thing they
had come to see
The value of living sharks is a big part of the value of Fiji Tourism,
a billion dollar industry,
and of the FJ$150+ million/year earned for the country in tax.

7. Live sharks are important to Fiji
• Maintain a healthy balance on the reef and open ocean
• Culturally significant
• Provide tourism $ for the economy of Fiji
7

8. Commercial fishing
represents the greatest threat to sharks
There are reported
declines in shark
populations of up to
70-80% globally.
Morgan, A.C., 2010.
Sharks: The State of the Science, 8
Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC

9. Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually
to support shark fin trading.
The valueless bodies are usually discarded.
Morgan, A.C., 2010.
Sharks: The State of the Science,
9
Ocean Science Division, Pew Environment Group, Washington, DC

10. How Shark Fins are used
• Shredded cartilage in Shark Fin soup – primarily Chinese weddings
• Remedies for arthritis - Chondroitin & Glucosamine tablets

11. Sharks in Fiji 35 of these shark species
spend most of their lives
58 species of shark have been along the coast and reefs of
reported in Fiji Waters Fiji, and are often caught by
Most are in danger of extinction commercial fishers.
ENDANGERED
Long term
DATA DEFICIENT Oceanic residents
VULNERABLE
(complete life-
cycle within Fiji)
LEAST CONCERN
NEAR THREATENED
Move widely in region (visit Fiji reefs and coasts)

12. Historical By-Catch Shark Fishery in Fiji
In the past sharks were caught as
By-catch of the Tuna Longline Fishery.
Most were caught alive (blue line) but almost
90% were killed and their fins taken (red line).
By-catch fins profit crew rather than boat owners
Year # Sharks Number Number Percent
observed caught Caught Finned
caught dead Alive
1999 434 1 28 86%
2002 75 7 58 78%
2003 277 29 218 89%
2004 451 62 339 90%
2005 892 172 720 89%

13. Targeted Shark Fishery
In the past few years the shark fishery has
changed from by-catch to a specifically
targeted fishery, benefiting export firms, and
numbers taken are increasing.
On 29 March 2011 a film crew visited
one of six Shark-fin and Sea Cucumber
export warehouses in Suva

14. Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji
Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011
Traders claimed
they could deliver
ONE TONNE
(1,000 Kg)
of DRIED Shark FIN
per month

15. Recent Targeted Shark Fin trade in Fiji
Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011
Background: Over 100 bags, most of
Beche de Mer (Sea Cucumber) with
about 35 bags of shark fins.
Foreground: 3 piles of shark fins with
about 3,000 fins in each pile.
About 9,000 fins,
(= 2,250 sharks),
plus 35 bags

16. Species found in Shark Fin Warehouse in Fiji:
Photos taken in Suva 29 March 2011.
Black Tip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
Oceanic Whitetip Shark Bull Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus Carcharhinus leucas

17. Sharks Fins Drying in Fiji Warehouse
Oceanic Whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
Status: Vulnerable*
Blue sharks (Prionace glauca)
Status: Near Threatened*
Silky sharks
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Status: Near Threatened*
* According to the IUCN Red List of
Endangered Species.
Photo taken:
29 March 2011, Suva, Fiji

18. The Fiji Shark Sanctuary Campaign
Supporting the Fiji Government’s initiative to
create a shark sanctuary across the entire Fiji EEZ,
a first for the South Pacific.
Campaign Aims:
• An end to the trade in shark products, and to all
commercial shark fishing in Fiji
• Declaration of the Fijian EEZ as a shark sanctuary, where
all shark species are protected

19. Methods of the Campaign
Research into Shark Densities, Habitats & Nurseries
Supplying data to Government
to strengthen conservation initiatives
Media campaigns
Securing support from Traditional Leaders, the General
Public, the Tourism Industry, & Conservation Organisations

20. Awareness Raising
Media articles, District meetings,
School visits, Posters,

21. Logo for T shirts, Stickers Etc
30 Minute Documentary

22. Taking part in the Fiji Shark Campaign
Support enforcement of shark fishing ban
Posters: Please display prominently
Communities and Organisations: send Letters of Support to
CORAL, PO Box 2558, Govt Bdgs, Suva, or Email hsykes@coral.org
Individuals: Sign the pledge at www.facebook.com/FijiSharkDefenders

23. The choice
is ours
Maroroya Save the
na Qio Sharks of
e Viti Fiji