The images are shocking: sailors drag sharks aboard their boats, amputate their fins, and release them mutilated and dying into the ocean waters. How can these practices be explained?
The fins of sharks end up on markets, primarily in Asia, where they are sold for high prices. For several years, these horrific scenes of mutilation have been recurring in the waters of Saya de Malha, a marine meadow rich in biodiversity, located in the Indian Ocean.
Fishermen come from far and wide, from Thailand, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and other places, to fish in these international waters, out of sight and beyond regulations. The NGO The Outlaw Ocean Project has investigated these practices and sheds light on this fishing activity, which threatens the precious ecosystem of Saya de Malha.
Source: Le monde
