Brussels, 04/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to rankings by the Shark Alliance, a group of countries have been named “shark champions” in that they have taken measures to protect these species in particular from fishing activities. Bringing up the rear, however, it is no surprise to find Spain and Portugal. The Shark Alliance is a coalition of over 60 conservation, scientific and recreational organisations which was founded in 2006 to push for a European action plan that takes account of scientific opinions (see EUROPE 9888 for the Council conclusions on the shark action plan).
The Champion countries are Germany (no catches of spurdog, porbeagle and deep-water shark and a ban on finning), Sweden (no catches of spurdog or porbeagle, protection of certain species of ray, stance on landing of shark with “fins naturally attached”), the United Kingdom (protection of shark and ray species and announcement that its will consider ceasing the special permits that allow removal of shark fins at sea), Denmark, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. The Czech Republic received an honourable mention (for its active role in the adoption of the Council conclusions on the shark action plan). The Shark Alliance found that a second group of countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovenia) were “helping sharks, but should do more”. Then come the laggards: those countries which are not helping sharks (Austria, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland and Slovakia) and the special category of “helping and hurting the sharks” (France, which is the only country to practise fishing that targets the porbeagle, and the European Commission). In the very last position come those countries which hurt most sharks: Spain and Portugal, which do not want to enhance the rules on finning (these countries have exemptions to the ban on this practice, which consists of removing the fins of the shark and throwing the carcase back into the sea). For more information, go to http: //http://www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=32399
The Shark Alliance was formed on the initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organisation working to end overfishing and the destruction of the world's oceans. Pew coordinates the Shark Alliance and provides it with resources and management. (L.C./transl.rt)