Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

French Polynesia shark fishing ban welcomed

Posted at 17:49 on 09 December, 2012 UTC

The Pew environmental group is the latest body to welcome a decision by French Polynesia to ban shark fishing.

Last week’s government move to also protect the mako in the territory’s five million square kilometer exclusive economic zone has doubled the size of the global shark sanctuary.

Pew says there is a growing awareness of the importance of sharks, pointing to the estimated 73 million sharks killed each year to harvest mainly their fins.

Among the six countries already protecting all sharks are the Marshall Islands, Tokelau and Palau.