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Siam Makro CEO, Mrs. Suchada Ithijarukul: Stop the sales of shark fin
Phongsakorn S.
started this petition to
Siam Makro CEO, Mrs. Suchada Ithijarukul
Greetings,
My name is Ob Saiyavath and I am a Thai student attending an International school in Bangkok. Save Sharks Network Thailand is my campaign. I have previously launched a successful campaign against Thai Airways asking it to clarify their shark fin policy as well as asking the airline to issue a public statement on their policy. They have agreed that conservation of sharks are important and as a result have made their stand clear, they no longer allow the cargo of shark fins. Removing itself from shark fin had been an absolute PR success to Thai Airways when they recently made the announcement to ban the cargo of shark fin. I am distressed that emails sent to Makro asking about their shark fin policies have been neglected, and I have yet to receive any response. This is the reason that I have decided to launch this petition. Many high-end supermarkets have declared and pledged to be Fin Free, most recently UFM Fuji, Villa Market and Tops Supermarket. I am asking you, Makro, to do the same and remove yourself from the shark fin trade.
Sharks are vital to the marine environment, they are the apex predators, in other words they are at the top of the food chain. Studies have shown that coral reef ecosystems with high numbers of apex predators tend to have greater biodiversity and higher densities of individual species. The loss of apex predators in a reef ecosystem upsets the natural food web and changes the composition of the reef community. As more mid-level predators increase, there will eventually be a decline of critical reef species like herbivorous fish. With fewer herbivores, algae can become overgrown, suffocating the reef and reducing the number of available niches for fish species. Without sharks the reefs and these exotic fishes will likely disappear which will have an impact on tourism.
Now one quarter of all sharks are threatened with extinction. If this is allowed to continue, disappearing shark populations will have a catastrophic effect on the marine ecosystems that we depend on for our own survival.
Shark numbers in Thailand are decreasing at an alarming rate, without these sharks the tourist industry is likely to suffer a sharp decline as divers look elsewhere. Thailand's economy is at the stake here, with shark sighting down by 90% in the last 7 years alone the conservation effort has to be top priority. If immediate actions are not taken the damage may be irreversible.
For these reasons, Thailand as a country is dependent on sharks. Once again I implore you to pledge to cease the sale of shark fin.
Furthermore, sharks also contain high levels of mercury, a heavy metal which is toxic to humans. The sales of shark fin is therefore harmful to consumers. According to Jann Gilbert the consumption of shark fins may prove fatal. Ms Gilbert has shown that at the very least 3 shark samples have been found to contain various toxic compounds at a much higher quantity than what is considered safe for consumption. It was also found that two of the shark species had mercury levels which were ten times higher than what was deemed safe by the Foods Standards Authority of Australia and New Zealand.
I am delighted to see that the Thai Military Government has taken a very strong stance on the illegal wildlife trade particularly with the ivory trade. I hope that the government will also focus its attention to the shark fin trade soon since so many species of sharks are endangered. In 2013 Bangkok hosted CITES where more sharks were listed for greater protection against international trade. I urge you to scrutinize your policy on the sales of shark fins.
MY ACTION
I have been appointed to represent all Thai International schools and thousands of students in Thailand, additionally I represent all other concerned individuals and conservation organizations who stand behind me for shark conservation. Save Sharks Network Thailand is my campaign for this petition.
Help me urge Makro to take this issue seriously!
Links:
Thailand government to destroy seized Ivory:
http://www.pattayamail.com/news/thailand-set-to-destroy-seized-ivory-stockpile-39021
Thai Supermarkets Ban Shark Products from Shelves:
http://www.freeland.org/#!thai-supermarkets-ban-shark-products/cpbq
Thai Airways: Stop shipment of Shark Fin:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Thai_Airways_Stop_shipment_of_Shark_Fin/?pv=7
Thai Airways bans shark fin:
http://divemagazine.co.uk/life/6711-thai-airways-bans-shark-fins
My name is Ob Saiyavath and I am a Thai student attending an International school in Bangkok. Save Sharks Network Thailand is my campaign. I have previously launched a successful campaign against Thai Airways asking it to clarify their shark fin policy as well as asking the airline to issue a public statement on their policy. They have agreed that conservation of sharks are important and as a result have made their stand clear, they no longer allow the cargo of shark fins. Removing itself from shark fin had been an absolute PR success to Thai Airways when they recently made the announcement to ban the cargo of shark fin. I am distressed that emails sent to Makro asking about their shark fin policies have been neglected, and I have yet to receive any response. This is the reason that I have decided to launch this petition. Many high-end supermarkets have declared and pledged to be Fin Free, most recently UFM Fuji, Villa Market and Tops Supermarket. I am asking you, Makro, to do the same and remove yourself from the shark fin trade.
Sharks are vital to the marine environment, they are the apex predators, in other words they are at the top of the food chain. Studies have shown that coral reef ecosystems with high numbers of apex predators tend to have greater biodiversity and higher densities of individual species. The loss of apex predators in a reef ecosystem upsets the natural food web and changes the composition of the reef community. As more mid-level predators increase, there will eventually be a decline of critical reef species like herbivorous fish. With fewer herbivores, algae can become overgrown, suffocating the reef and reducing the number of available niches for fish species. Without sharks the reefs and these exotic fishes will likely disappear which will have an impact on tourism.
Now one quarter of all sharks are threatened with extinction. If this is allowed to continue, disappearing shark populations will have a catastrophic effect on the marine ecosystems that we depend on for our own survival.
Shark numbers in Thailand are decreasing at an alarming rate, without these sharks the tourist industry is likely to suffer a sharp decline as divers look elsewhere. Thailand's economy is at the stake here, with shark sighting down by 90% in the last 7 years alone the conservation effort has to be top priority. If immediate actions are not taken the damage may be irreversible.
For these reasons, Thailand as a country is dependent on sharks. Once again I implore you to pledge to cease the sale of shark fin.
Furthermore, sharks also contain high levels of mercury, a heavy metal which is toxic to humans. The sales of shark fin is therefore harmful to consumers. According to Jann Gilbert the consumption of shark fins may prove fatal. Ms Gilbert has shown that at the very least 3 shark samples have been found to contain various toxic compounds at a much higher quantity than what is considered safe for consumption. It was also found that two of the shark species had mercury levels which were ten times higher than what was deemed safe by the Foods Standards Authority of Australia and New Zealand.
I am delighted to see that the Thai Military Government has taken a very strong stance on the illegal wildlife trade particularly with the ivory trade. I hope that the government will also focus its attention to the shark fin trade soon since so many species of sharks are endangered. In 2013 Bangkok hosted CITES where more sharks were listed for greater protection against international trade. I urge you to scrutinize your policy on the sales of shark fins.
MY ACTION
I have been appointed to represent all Thai International schools and thousands of students in Thailand, additionally I represent all other concerned individuals and conservation organizations who stand behind me for shark conservation. Save Sharks Network Thailand is my campaign for this petition.
Help me urge Makro to take this issue seriously!
Links:
Thailand government to destroy seized Ivory:
http://www.pattayamail.com/news/thailand-set-to-destroy-seized-ivory-stockpile-39021
Thai Supermarkets Ban Shark Products from Shelves:
http://www.freeland.org/#!thai-supermarkets-ban-shark-products/cpbq
Thai Airways: Stop shipment of Shark Fin:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Thai_Airways_Stop_shipment_of_Shark_Fin/?pv=7
Thai Airways bans shark fin:
http://divemagazine.co.uk/life/6711-thai-airways-bans-shark-fins
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