In a statement, SSPA chairman Aderick Chong said in view of the potential legal challenges between Federal and State jurisdictions in relation to possible state laws against shark hunting and finning, a new law was needed.

He said both the State and Federal governments should formulate a law against the capture and consumption of sharks inside Sabah’s marine protected areas and outside of them.

Chong also called on Putrajaya to amend the Fisheries Act, which will enable Sabah to pass its own laws at the state level.

“SSPA also calls on Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Yahya Hussin to consider putting in place a ban on catching, trading and slaughtering sharks outside of Sabah’s marine protected areas.”

Meanwhile, another NGO, Land Empowerment Animals People (Leap), said any new or amended law must be complemented by efforts to help fishermen who catch sharks to find alternative sources of livelihood, especially in the diving and ecotourism sector.

In a statement, its director Cynthia Ong said practical efforts should be made to maintain Sabah’s reputation as a world leader in conservation and marine tourism.

“For this to happen, we need to integrate the best of local and international science and policy innovation with the energy and knowledge of Sabah’s fishing communities and improvements in their livelihoods,” Ong said.

Yesterday, Sabah State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said any law the state might formulate against shark hunting and finning might be ineffective as long as the Fisheries Act, a federal legislation, was not amended, as federal laws reigned supreme.

At the federal level, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek has ruled out amending the Fisheries Act.

Last month, horrifying images of shark finning, said to have taken place in Sabah’s Mabul island, near Sipadan island, raised the ire of conservationists and netizens, who lamented the lack of strong laws and enforcement.