December 16, 2010

HSI Commends European Parliament Adoption of Resolution Strengthening EU Ban on Shark Finning

Humane Society International/Europe

(Strasbourg, 16th December 2010)—Humane Society International welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of a Resolution urging the European Commission to swiftly deliver a proposal to prohibit the removal of shark fins on-board vessels without exception. 

This Parliamentary Resolution follows the adoption of Written Declaration 71/2010 on strengthening the present EU ban on shark finning, which was launched by four Members of the European Parliament (Jean-Paul Besset (France, Greens/EFA), Chris Davis (UK, ALDE), Sirpa Pietikäinen (Finland, EPP) and Daciana Octavia Sârbu (Romania, S&D)) in September 2010.

A total of 423 of the Parliament’s 736 MEPs from across all 27 EU Member States and political groups signed Written Declaration 71/2010, showing their support for the requirement for sharks to only be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies.
 
Joanna Swabe, Ph.D. and HSI’s EU director, praised the European Parliament for taking such a strong stance on shark finning.

“The present EU shark finning legislation is one of the weakest in the world. The Regulation contains gaping loopholes that allow fishermen to obtain permits not only to remove fins on board, but also to land fins and carcasses at separate ports. This makes the current legislation almost impossible to enforce. On top of this, the legislation operates an excessive 5 percent fin-to-carcass ratio, which is so lenient that it is theoretically possible for up to two out of three sharks caught by EU fishermen to be finned. The only way to enforce shark finning legislation and ensure that no finning has taken place is to require that sharks are landed with their fins still naturally attached. HSI commends the Parliament for recognising this.”

The ‘fins naturally attached’ method has been successfully developed by Costa Rican shark fisheries, and is currently being used by most Central American countries, in addition to some fisheries in Australia and the United States. This method has put an end to shark finning and allowed for the more effective management of shark populations.

The European Commission has made a political commitment to amend the present flawed shark finning Regulation in 2011, and recently launched a public consultation on options for amendment, including a total ban on the removal of shark fins on board vessels.

HSI will be urging the Commission to produce a legislative proposal supporting the ‘fins naturally attached’ method. HSI hopes that the adoption of the Resolution will also encourage the Commission to deliver a strong proposal that will finally give sharks the protection they deserve.

ENDS

Notes

1. Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year. Many of them are killed to meet the demand for shark fin soup, a Chinese delicacy. Shark populations cannot sustain the current slaughter rates.

2. Sharks are apex predators whose survival affects all other marine species and entire oceanic ecosystems.

3. Shark finning is a cruel and wasteful practice that involves slicing off a shark’s fins and throwing the body—often while the shark is still alive—back into the water.

4. One third of European shark species are considered to be threatened with extinction. 

5. Germany and the United Kingdom have recognised the inadequacy of Regulation 1185/2003 and have already stopped issuing special permits for the onboard removal of fins, but Spain and Portugal continue to issue them to most of their shark fishing fleet.

Follow HSI on Twitter.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world's largest animal protection organizations — backed by 11 million people. For nearly 20 years, HSI has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide — On the Web at hsi.org.