Tokelau!

Proudly sailing towards the manu!

Tokelau has declared its EEZ a Shark Sanctuary.
Once again, this is a fabulous achievement by the excellent Shark campaign of Pew.

I find this particularly interesting for two reasons.
Firstly, because this is a Territory of New Zealand - where to this day, the finning of (dead) Sharks remains perfectly legal! How many more small Pacific island states need to show how to do it, before the oh so condescending Kiwis and Aussies start cleaning up their act?
For Shame, indeed!

Secondly, because Tokelau is piss poor.
It has the world's smallest GDP and will never, ever be able to pay for the enforcement of the ban. Here's where Pew is completely right in advocating regional sanctuaries where the island states can help each other. It also just so happens that many of the Shark fins harvested in Tokelau end up being landed in Fiji, from where they are sent to Hong Kong. Once Fiji declares its own Sanctuary, that route will be shut.
Hopefully - fingers crossed!

Anyway, this is a good day for Sharks! :)