The Sea Protector

An innovative ecotourism venture is helping combat shark fishing

- Lam Lye Ching

KATHY XU, A high school teacher in Singapore, had always wanted to see a shark in the wild. The opportunity finally came in 2011, when she went on a snorkelling trip to the Ningaloo Reef, off the coast of Western Australia. Not only was she not scared of the whale shark, the then 29-year-old was so inspired by its beauty and grace that tears sprang to her eyes inside her snorkel mask. "I was screaming with excitement inside, while still trying to keep calm and enjoy the moment," she says.

After returning home to Singapore, Xu learnt about the shark trade taking place at one of Indonesia's largest fish markets. In the village of Tanjung Luar, on the island of Lombok, shark parts including meat, cartilage and teeth are cut up for export. Most prized are the fins, which fetch high prices because of the popularity of shark-fin soup.