A few weeks ago I ended up in Lombok, Indonesia after a boat trip I was on from Labuan Bajo. For about a week, I went on with my typical traveler’s itinerary hitting beautiful lesser-known beaches, surfing empty breaks, and exploring the island by motorbike. I was staying in a villa with some Dutch girls I met on the boat and David, an avid scuba diver who knew one of the girls from a previous trip. He suggested we go exploration diving to map out future dive sites with him and some of his buddies at dinner. We were in. Dawn crept around, and on the way out to the harbor, they asked if we wanted to go to the shark market. I had briefly read about the market in the past, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see.
As an avid diver and human, this is one of the most painful things I will ever witness. I was heartbroken over the mass killing of these beautiful creatures that are essential to keeping a healthy marine ecosystem. Reef sharks, Makos, Tiger sharks, Silky sharks, Grey Reef sharks, Cow Nose rays, Marble sting rays, Scalloped hammerheads, and even a Great White. For most of us, this is the only time we might ever see these incredible animals in person. Every day hundreds of lifeless bodies are pulled off small fishing boats and brought into this market. I use the term market lightly, as it’s more of a processing facility for fins.
Why are these endangered animals senselessly killed? To feed to the growing appetite for shark fin soup in China. As their booming middle-class grows in population, so does their disposable income. Shark fin soup is a status symbol in their culture, something that displays their wealth at the expense of the fading shark population. Changing the culture and their traditions takes time that this species does not have.
Please remember that the fishermen are people who are working hard to provide for their families. In small villages where there are not many job opportunities, this is a job that will provide food, clothing, and shelter to their families. To put things into perspective, they make about USD 100 every three weeks while one pound of shark fins can fetch up to USD 500. Hate should not be directed towards these fishermen or their livelihood. Hate should be directed at the people who choose to continue to buy shark products despite this ecological crisis.
I feel fortunate to have gotten the chance to visit this morbid scene and shed light on what happens beyond the beautiful beaches and tour group itinerary. Many of us visit these islands and describe them as paradise after experiencing the censored Instagram friendly version. By stepping outside your comfort zone, you can learn so much from what is happening instead of making assumptions behind a computer screen. Change ultimately starts with ending the stigma around sharks, the sale of shark fin soup, and providing these Indonesian fishermen with an alternative income. 🦈💔
Taco's Passport 