太平洋島國馬紹爾群島創造了世界最大的鯊魚禁漁區。馬紹爾國會10月初一致投票通過法案，在該國近200萬平方公里的海域上，全面禁止商業目的之捕鯊行為。
該法令禁止鯊魚販賣、交易和私藏任何鯊魚的身體部位。
瓜佳蓮市代表、也是法案共同提倡人Senator Tony deBrum說：「這無疑是突顯鯊魚對我們國家在經濟、文化和環境上的重要性。感謝馬紹爾總統查凱爾（Jurelang Zedkaia）的遠見和支持。我們也許是個小島國，但我們的海域是最大的鯊魚保護地。希望密克羅尼西亞海域各國領導者，能鼎力相助、實現諾言，讓這裡成為鯊魚庇護所。」
世界自然保育聯盟（IUCN）已把全世界30%的鯊魚種類和魟魚種類都列入將瀕危或嚴重瀕危物種的紅皮書。
紅肉ㄚ髻鮫（scalloped hammerhead shark）和白鰭鯊（white tip shark）的數量在過去60年的工業化捕魚下，已減少98%以上。
努力推動鯊魚禁漁區的皮尤環境組織（Pew Environment Group）表示，每年超過7300萬條因為魚翅貿易遭到捕殺。
全球對魚翅、魚肉、魚肝油等鯊魚製成品的需求而使鯊魚瀕臨滅絕邊緣。特別是亞洲饕客鍾愛的魚翅，每碗要價甚至高達100美元。根據皮尤環境組織說明，一公斤的魚翅約可用700美元左右成交。
由於鯊魚生長緩慢，成熟期也較晚並且生育數量極低，一旦過度捕撈，欲回復往年數量水準將是一條漫長的路。
馬紹爾群島新法令禁止全面商業性漁撈、交易鯊魚或鯊魚製品，一旦漁船意外捉到任何鯊魚物種，必須放生。
法令也規定，一旦被查獲捕捉鯊魚、或擁有魚翅者將重罰金額25,000至200,000美元。此外，針對犯法者也將依私藏鯊魚製品數量，依據其市價裁罰。
這項法令設立一道防護線，保護鯊魚不受他們最大天敵──捕漁業者的侵犯。
法令中也包括一項監督和執行條款，規定所有漁船只在一處港口卸魚貨，禁止私自在海上轉運。
皮尤環境組織的鯊魚保育負責人藍德（Matt Rand）說道：「我們真的為馬紹爾群島對鯊魚保育所貫徹執行的法令大為喝采。當各國領導者意識到鯊魚物種對我們海洋的重要性後，鯊魚保育的巨輪將因此駛向全世界。」
在3月時，馬國漁業局早已提出終止鯊魚交易的提案，而此次法案過關，則是此事件發展的最高潮。
6月，馬國總統和其他中太平洋領袖，為密克羅尼西亞鯊魚禁漁區的設立，簽署全世界第一個區域性鯊魚保育協定。
7月時，市長聯合會（Mayors Association）呼籲全國24個地方政府一同執行鯊魚保育的法令。
接下來，馬國國會資源發展委員會則在數場公聽會之後，通過將鯊魚保育新規定納入百大漁事法案（fisheries Bill 100），補足該法案在鯊魚保護方面的的漏洞。
馬紹爾是繼帛琉、馬爾地夫、宏都拉斯、巴哈馬群島及托克拉奧（Tokelau）之後，以最高標準保護鯊魚的夥伴。藍德說，「我們期待幫助更多國家加入鯊魚保育的行列。」
1986年美國與馬紹爾簽訂「自由聯合協定」（Compact of Free Association），依據該協定，馬紹爾享有內政自治權並得與他國政府、區域暨國際組織簽訂條約及協定，涉外事務需與美諮商，國防亦由美國掌管。
目前馬紹爾居民有67,000人，由1,225個分別散布在中太平洋上29個環礁上的小島組成，總分布面積將印200萬平方公里。
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has established the world's largest shark sanctuary. The Nitijela, the Marshallese parliament, unanimously passed legislation this week that ends commercial fishing of sharks in all 768,547 square miles (nearly two million square kilometers) of the Pacific island nation's waters.
The law bans the sale, trade and possession of sharks, shark fins, or any other shark parts.
"In passing this bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy," said Senator Tony deBrum, a representative from Kwajalein Atoll, who is a bill cosponsor.
"I thank President Jurelang Zedkaia for his vision and support for this effort. Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place where sharks are protected," said deBrum. "We hope other Micronesian leaders will join with us to make good on our collective promise of a regional sanctuary."
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species shows that 30 percent of the world's shark and ray species are threatened or near-threatened with extinction.
Some species, such as the white tip shark and the scalloped hammerhead shark, have lost more than 98 percent of their numbers to industrial fishing over the past 60 years.
Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually to support the global shark fin trade, according to the Pew Environment Group, which is fostering efforts to establish shark sanctuaries, where targeted fishing for these species is prohibited.
The worldwide demand for shark fins, meat, liver oil, and other products has driven numerous shark populations to the brink of extinction. Shark fins are in great demand for the Asian delicacy, shark fin soup - a bowl of shark fin soup can cost up to US$100. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of shark fins can sell for as much as US$700, according to the Pew Environment Group, which is spearheading efforts to establish shark sanctuaries, where targeted fishing for these species is prohibited.
Because they grow slowly, come to maturity late in life and produce few young, sharks are vulnerable to overfishing and populations are slow to recover once depleted.
The new Marshall Islands' law imposes a complete prohibition on the commercial fishing of all species of sharks as well as the sale of any sharks or shark products. Under the law, any shark caught accidentally by fishing vessels must be released.
The law stipulates large monetary fines, anywhere between US$25,000 to US$200,000, for anyone who is found to be fishing for sharks or in possession of shark fins. In addition, violators would be fined the market value of the product in their possession.
The law places a ban on the use of wire leaders, a longline fishing gear which is among the most lethal to sharks.
A monitoring and enforcement provision requires all fishing vessels to land their catch at one of the country's ports and bans transfers at sea.
"We salute the Republic of the Marshall Islands for enacting the strongest legislation to protect sharks that we have seen," said Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group.
"As leaders recognize the importance of healthy shark populations to our oceans, the momentum for protecting these animals continues to spread across the globe," said Rand.
This week's action is the culmination of developments that began in March when the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority issued a moratorium on the shark trade.
It was furthered in June, when President Jurelang Zedkaia joined other central Pacific leaders in setting the stage for the creation of a Micronesia Regional Shark Sanctuary, the first regional shark conservation agreement of its kind.
In July, the Marshall Islands Mayors Association moved to make this vision a reality by passing a resolution that called on the 24 inhabited atolls throughout the Marshalls, each with its own local government, to enact ordinances prohibiting the sale and trade of sharks or shark fins.
Following public hearings last month, the Nitijela's Resources and Development Committee, chaired by Namu Senator Kaiboke Kabua, decided to insert shark protection language into the fisheries Bill 100. While Bill 100 had some shark protections, it also had some loopholes, which have now been closed.
"The Marshall Islands have joined Palau, the Maldives, Honduras, the Bahamas and Tokelau in delivering the gold standard of protection for ensuring shark survival," Rand said. "We look forward to helping other countries enlist in this cause."
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has a Compact of Free Association with the United States government. The Compact, which entered into force in 1986, granted the RMI sovereignty in domestic and foreign affairs in return for granting the United States defense rights in the islands.
Some 67,000 people live in the Marshall Islands, approximately 1,225 islets in 29 low-lying atolls scattered across 768,000 square miles of the central Pacific Ocean.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
