Brussels, 21/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission brought forward a proposal on Monday 21 November to ban, with no exemptions, the practice of “shark finning” aboard fishing vessels. Shark finning is the practice of cutting off the fins of sharks - often while they are still alive - and then throwing the shark without its fins back into the sea. The Spanish and Portuguese freezer vessels are those most concerned by the proposed new rules, as their countries issue most permits for on-board processing.
The Commission proposes that, henceforth, all vessels fishing in EU waters and all EU vessels fishing anywhere in the world will have to land sharks with the fins still attached. To facilitate storage and handling onboard vessels, fishermen will be permitted to slice partly through each fin and fold it against the carcass of the shark. The aim of the new rules is to better protect vulnerable shark populations across the world's oceans.
The proposal strengthens the existing EU legislation banning shark finning, which allows, by exemption and under certain conditions, the removal of fins on board and landing fins and shark carcasses in different ports. The Commission proposes that this should no longer be possible. As a consequence, EU member states will no longer be able to issue special fishing permits, that allow vessels flying their flag to fin sharks on board.
“By closing the loophole in our legislation, we want to eradicate the horrendous practice of shark finning and protect sharks much better. Control will become easier and shark finning much more difficult to hide. I very much look forward to the Council and the European Parliament accepting our proposal, so that it becomes law as soon as possible”, said Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
Sharks are generally very vulnerable to overexploitation: they grow slowly, mature late, and have only a small number of young per birth. In recent years, some shark populations have become seriously threatened following a dramatic increase in demand for shark products, fins in particular.
Current rules. The existing 2003 regulation on banning shark finning generally bans the removal of fins, but allows, by exemption and under certain conditions, fins to be removed on board ship and fins and shark carcasses to be landed in different ports. The weight of the fins must not exceed 5% of the live weight of sharks caught. However, this measure has proved to be not sufficiently effective. Since fins and bodies can be landed in different ports, inspectors have to rely on logbook records to determine whether the ratio had been respected. Moreover, fin-to-carcass weight varies according to species and fin-cutting practices. Consequently, shark finning is difficult to detect, and even more difficult to prove in legal proceedings.
According to the Oceana organisation, up to 73 million sharks are killed each year to satisfy the demand of the international shark fin market. EU countries account for 14% of global shark catches. (LC/transl.rt)