Andrew is a post-doctoral researcher in North Carolina focused on population and conservation genetics in hydrothermal vent communities.
Image from Jessica King, Marine Photobank
All eyes in the shark world are focused on Belgium, where the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee votes Wednesday on one of the most significant conservation policies in years: a stronger EU-wide ban on shark finning via a prohibition on removing sharks at sea, with no more exceptions. Since some of the details are quite technical, emotions are running high, and a lot of misinformation is spreading, I’ve prepared a quick guide to help our readers understand the proposed policy. For much more detailed updates, follow the Shark Alliance’s blog.
1) The proposed policy would strengthen the current EU finning ban, not ban fins. As has previously been discussed, some of the language surrounding shark conservation policy can be confusing. As a reminder, shark finning is the act of removing fins from a shark at sea and dumping the body overboard. Finning of live sharks is incredibly inhumane (the “finned” shark will bleed to death or drown when dumped overboard), and incredibly wasteful whether the shark is alive or dead (less than 5% of the shark is used). Scientists are almost universally opposed to shark finning because it is often associated with unsustainable fishing and the practice makes it difficult for managers to know what species of shark the fin came from. The policy that the European Parliament is voting on is an amendment to the current EU ”finning ban”,” which relies on a complicated and lenient fin to carcass ratio for enforcement. The European Commission has proposed requiring that sharks be landed with fins still attached, which would strengthen enforcement and data collection capabilities. This is not a “fin ban” that would make it illegal to buy, sell, or possess fins.
2) If this proposal passes, it will help sharks. A lot. Requiring that fishermen land sharks naturally attached is an important step in the path to sustainable shark fisheries management. It will help enforcement agents ensure that finning is not taking place and help scientists and managers to keep track of how much of which species are being taken. Since the European Union is the world’s largest supplier of shark fins to the markets in Asia and a powerful force at all international fisheries bodies, an EU-wide switch to more sustainable fishing practices could have an enormous impact.
3) The devil is in the details with conservation policy. A 2003 regulation already banned finning for EU vessels, but it is full of loopholes and the Shark Alliance calls it ”among the most lenient in the world”. Specifically, it allows EU members states to issue special permits for their fishermen to remove fins at sea as long as they keep the carcasses (and the total weight of landed fins can’t exceed a certain ratio of the total weight of landed carcasses). Such a measure is called a “Fin to carcass ratio limit”, and they are widely criticized by the scientific and conservation community since the actual ratio of fin weight to body weight varies widely by shark species, shark age, and fin removal practice (which allows some “cheating” by fishermen). The new rule would eliminate these special permits and require that all EU vessels land sharks with fins naturally attached with no exceptions.
4) This is a big step, but just one step on a very long road.The Shark Alliance has been pushing for this since 2006, a process they’ve chronicled with an interactive infographic. If the European Parliament Fisheries Committee passes the proposal, it still has to go before the full Parliament. Even then, there’s still a lot of work to do to protect sharks around the world, including pushing for other countries to stop finning, species-specific protections for particularly threatened species (including but not limited to CITES and fishing bans), requirements that fishermen report the species composition of their catch, and more.
5) The vote is expected to be close, but you can help! The Shark Alliance is asking for the public to show their support by tweeting at Members of Parliament who serve on the Fisheries Committee. This is a quick and easy way for us to demonstrate that there is a lot of public interest in (and support for) the finning ban. Follow the Shark Alliance on twitter and check out their recent updates. You can RT their tweets, but composing your own would be a big help. Here are some suggestions:
We need your support to prevent shark finning. Vote on September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions. (109 characters with spaces).MEPs: we need your support to prevent shark finning. Vote Wednesday to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions. (109 characters with spaces)MEPs on Fisheries Committee: help prevent shark finning by voting September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions (120 characters with spaces).MEPs on PECH Committee: help prevent shark finning by voting September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions (115 characters with spaces).
Shark fin finale in European Parliament: MEPs must vote Sept 19 to end removal of fins at sea, no exceptions (109 characters with spaces).Urging PECH MEPs to vote Sept 19 to strengthen EU shark finning ban thru ban on at-sea fin removal, no exceptions! (115 characters with spaces).Seeking MEPs to help prevent shark finning by voting September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions! (106 characters with spaces).Crucial vote on shark finning. Ask Fisheries Committee MEPs to vote Sept 19 for ending at-sea fin removal, no exceptions! (121 characters with spaces).Fisheries Committee MEPs choose Sept 19 to close loopholes in EU shark finning ban. Ask them to end fin removal at sea. (119 characters with spaces).
BULGARIAFRANCEIRELANDPOLANDSPAINSWEDEN
UNITED KINGDOM
PLEASE STOP THE FINNINGS and KILLINGS!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Shark finning is incredibly inhumane – the “finned” shark will bleed to death or drown when dumped overboard – and incredibly wasteful with less than ten percent of the shark’s mass used. Scientists are almost universally opposed to shark finning because it is an extremely unsustainable practice that makes it difficult for managers to know what species of shark the fin came from.
In the words of the great Albert Schweitzer, “We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.”
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Please stop and ban shark finnings
in the country. It is important and necessary to stop this action.
Human used cruelty and inhumane ways to their life. It is not fair and wrong. They also has right and feeling to their alive.
Respect our resources. Their population is decline and already endangered species, Please help save their ecosystem now.
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I fully support the proposed European Union Shark Finning ban. Requiring that fishermen land sharks whole is an important step in the path to sustainable shark fisheries management. It will help limit the number of sharks taken by fishermen (a whole shark takes up more room in a hold than a set of fins does), and it will help managers to keep track of which species are being harvested. Since the European Union is the world’s largest supplier of shark fins to the markets in Asia, an EU-wide switch to more sustainable fishing practices will have an enormous and rapid impact.
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I despise finning and it makes me sick.
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Finning or the destruction of removing the fin from a shark or any other sea creature is deplorable and needs to be stopped. We as humans don’t rule the world, God does. He made sharks for a reason, not for our disposal or to make money from. Please stop this action immediately.
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Please put a stop to this hideous practice of shark finning. How cruel, how wasteful!! Sometimes I’m ashamed to be human!!
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Hmmm, interesting theory that God made sharks Chris, I’d like to hear more about that.
“God,” LOL
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Ban shark finning today!
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Together we can win
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This MUST be stopped
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Finning is a disgusting practice that shows NO RESPECT for our natural world.
MY FAMILY AND I URGE YOU IN THE STRONGEST OF WAYS TO END THIS NEANDERTHAL PRACTICE AND TO JOIN US IN THE 21ST CENTURY ! ! !
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Be Human!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I would like to see the practice of finning banned, it is wasteful and cruel
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We need to take care of all the creatures of the earth. We need to stop maiming and harming animals. We need to bad finning sharks.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Let’s stop… ban… finning sharks.
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what a horrible thing. this has got to stop right now. poor things. why must so many humans find it such a needed thing to do horrific things to animals?
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We need your support to prevent shark finning. Vote on September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions.
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Stop this atrocity!
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We need your support to prevent shark finning. Vote on September 19 to end fin removal at sea, no exceptions.
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Poor sharks!Its most be forbidden!
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Please, a finning ban must be implemented to stop this cruel and barbaric practice, once and for all.
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Please vote to outlaw shark finning
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Pan shark finning, in the EU. eat sardines, and farmed trout. they make just as good a soup and in fact become a vegetarian, eat rat fruits and veggies, love longer, hare sharper branns, healthier bodies resistant to cancers, and save our seas. Farm, grow and plan eatible gardens where ever you live. be well and blessed, in light and love Angel Tompkins, La Tuna Canyon, CA USA
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It is good news to know about shark conservation by EU
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The we fish has to change for the future, if you care about our children are going eat when they try to feed their children, well, be sensible. Fish safely, sensibly and without cruelty.
Thanks
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The way we fish has to change for a better future, if you care about our children, what they will fish, what they will feed their children, well, be sensible, fish safely, sensibly and with out cruelty.
Thanks.
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I think its good to ban the shark fining.
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