SINGAPORE: The 8 blacktip sharks found deceased in waters away from Pulau Hantu were most likely caught in a gill net, said the National Parks Panel (NParks) on Wed night (Aug 31).
It was based on the online images, description of the accidents and the location from the carcasses provided by scuba divers who found all of them, said Dr Karenne Tun, director associated with NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, in response to CNA’s queries.
The girl added that the observation was in line with that of non-profit preservation group Marine Stewards.
There was simply no sample collected in the carcasses during the dive, said Dr Tun.
More than 100 species of fish, including the blacktip sharks, are located in the waters. “To protect our indigenous marine biodiversity, NParks encourages members of the public to undertake responsible recreational angling at designated angling spots, using a lot more sustainable fishing strategies, ” said Dr Tun.
There are numerous fishing gear and methods, ranging from catch, rod and range, fish traps plus nets, each various in its impact on the environment, she added.
“Fish traps plus nets tend to be more indiscriminate and when lost in the sea, will still trap and kill fish and other marine life.
“For this reason, net angling and the use of wire mesh traps are certainly not allowed in places managed by NParks, ” said Dr Tun.
Places such as the Sisters’ Island destinations Marine Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Book, Labrador Nature Reserve’s rocky shore, Chek Jawa Wetlands, seas around Coney Isle Park and Admiralty Park have been specified as “no fishing” spots and are maintained as sanctuaries pertaining to fish.