ASIAN DEMAND BEHIND SHARK DEPLETION

SYDNEY

ASIAN DEMAND FOR SHARK'S FIN SOUP IS PUSHING THE ANIMAL'S POPULATION IN THE WILD TO NEW LOWS, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND WILDLIFE TRADE MONITORING GROUP SAID IN A REPORT RELEASED YESTERDAY.

THE REPORT FOUND THAT WHILE MORE THAN ONE-FIFTH OF SHARKS SPCIES WERE THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION, A LACK OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL ON OVERFISHING AND THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL FISHING WERE FURTHER DEPLETING THE ANIMALS NUMBER.

"THE STATUS OF SHARKS STOCKS CONTINUES TO DETERIOTE," IT SAID, ADDING THAT THE PREDATORS WERE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO OVERFISHING BECAUSE THEY PRODUCED FEW YOUNG AND MATURE SLOWLY.