Fate of sharks take centerstage in summit

 

Starting today ocean stakeholders will gather at the Capitol Social Hall in Cebu City to discuss ways to protect sharks in the country.

The Shark Summit 2014 convenes in response to increasing concern over the sustainability of shark fisheries and trade. It will revisit the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA) made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and conservation groups in 2009.

Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Vince Cinches said experts on research, education, governance, business and other sectors will be asked to report their contribution to the protection of these marine creatures.

Cinches said the summit will provide a platform to revise the NPOA.

By doing this, he said they can identify “gaps” and suggest measures to solve these.

“Sharks represent the current state of our ecosystem. It is in bad shape and is not given much attention. However, the sharks also represent hope that by coming together, we can still do something,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Aside from local officials, representatives from the province’s tourism sector and law enforcement agencies will also be invited to set policies and guidelines.

Cinches said they expect a hundred students to gather at the Capitol grounds on Thursday wearing shark hats to symbolize the unity of the Province of Cebu, the youth and other sectors on the campaign for the protection of sharks.

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