The European Commission is considering legislating against the trade in loose shark fins in response to public pressure.
Whilst the practice of ‘finning’ – removing a shark’s fins and throwing it back to sea – is illegal in the EU, the import and export of loose fins is not specifically outlawed and dishes like shark fin soup remain a delicacy in some parts of the world.
In response to the ‘Stop finning – Stop the trade’ European citizens’ initiative, the Commission says it will act in three areas by:
- Considering legislative action to end the trade
- Launching an impact assessment by the end of the year on the consequences of applying the ‘fins naturally attached’ policy to all sharks in the EU market
- Providing by the end of 2024 detailed information on the import and export of sharks to and from the EU
“The EU has for long been a leading force in sustainability of marine resources, including sharks,” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
“The European citizens’ initiative is a call for more action. I am pleased to reply to this initiative with several actions that will be important steps towards better protection of sharks, which are fundamental for the health of our ocean.”
The Commission said it will better enforce the EU’s traceability measures along the entire value chain, ie. control of fishing at sea, shark products from landing to consumer, consumer information, and prevention and redress of illegal trade.
It said it will also ensure better reporting by fishers and member states, as well as push for a worldwide ban on shark finning.
