The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Finning - Stop the Trade’ gained some support in the European Parliament on Monday 27 March.
This ECI was discussed in the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, with MEPs of the European Parliament’s Environment and Petitions Committees as well (see EUROPE 13115/19).
Marian-Jean Marinescu, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, said that finning was a danger to species and ecosystems.
Yana Toom (Renew Europe, Estonia) suggested, among other things, that more selective fishing gear be used.
European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová said the ECI was a contribution to the debate to protect endangered species.
“As long as fins can be sold, the incentive is too strong and finning will continue, whether it is legal or not. In addition, by-catch of sharks must be prevented”, argued Stefanie Brendl, on behalf of the ECI organisers. It is a luxury product, while sharks are in danger of extinction. The UK, US and Canada have banned finning, Ms Brendl said.
All shark is marketed. Daniel Voces, Director General of the Europêche organisation, recalled that the EU fishing fleets condemn finning.
“The European fishing fleet has never engaged in finning, because we value, sell and eat shark meat”. Moreover, he said, there have never been any infringements in the EU on such targeted finning measures. Mr Voces said the EU fleet does not target certain species of sharks that are protected. “In case of accidental catches, the animal is thrown back into the sea alive”, he said. France, Spain and Portugal fish mainly for blue and porbeagle sharks.
Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spanish) noted that since 2020 measures had been taken to protect sharks, including the blue shark. He also noted that certificates are required when sharks are traded in Europe. The ban should not only apply to the EU fleet, he warned, as fins are being hunted by fleets in Asia (China, Japan).
Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) noted that not all shark species are endangered and questioned the need to amend Regulation 605/2013 on the removal of shark fins on board vessels.
Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA, Portuguese) questioned the difference between reported and actual shark catches.
Grace O'Sullivan (Greens/EFA) welcomed the aim of this ECI, as did Ska Keller (Greens/EFA, German).
Although finning on board EU vessels and in EU waters is prohibited and sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached to the body, the EU is one of the world’s largest exporters of fins and is an important transit area for the global fin trade, according to ECI organisers. They call for an end to the fin trade in the EU, including the import, export and transit of fins that are not naturally attached to the animal’s body.
Decision this summer. Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, said that the regulation in question was not being applied: “The gaps need to be filled”, he said. He also referred to the regulation on controls currently being negotiated between the co-legislators. “Your initiative will serve to complement all measures to strengthen shark protection”, the Commissioner assured. The ECI is currently under review in the Commission and decisions will be taken “in the summer of 2023”, Mr Sinkevičius concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)