End Shark finning
Anglo-Spanish boats administered from Ayr and Ullapool have applied for 16 shark finning permits this year. Seven permits were issued in 2006 and seven in 2007. Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead today called for an to end the practice of shark finning in European waters.
It came as possible measures to tighten up procedures in Scotland’s seas were unveiled. At the moment only foreign-owned and operated vessels participate in the practice in Scottish waters. The Scottish industry is supportive of the Scottish Government’s proposals.
If approved, vessels working in the Scottish zone may soon have to meet the following strict new conditions before being issued a special permit:
- It will be compulsory for any vessel wishing to fin sharks to carry an observer on board
- The observer shall record the weight and species of all sharks that are finned
- The observer shall report any non-compliance with the rules surrounding finning sharks
- The observer shall be available to any Marine Scotland Fishery Officer on landing to report their findings
Speaking after returning from the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, where he also welcomed the decision to adopt the European Union’s Shark Action Plan, Mr Lochhead said:
“We know that some shark populations are critically endangered, and that is why we are proposing even tougher restrictions in Scotland, sending out a strong message.
“We are one of Europe’s most important fishing nations and we have a huge interest in maintaining the sustainability of our seas, their stocks and the wider marine ecosystem.
“I welcome the fact that the European Council has made a commitment to review existing regulations on shark finning. I strongly believe it’s a horrendous and wasteful practice.
“In Scotland we will not sit back and wait for things to happen. We are determined to develop robust, workable procedures, proving beyond doubt that we are leading the rest of Europe on the conservation front.”
This something SSACN has been fighting for for many years. In another press statement, Mr Lochhead was quoted as saying “In Scotland we are working closely with the industry and NGOs, and we look forward to working with the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network to develop robust, workable procedures.”
NOTES::
- Special Fishing Permits for the Removal of Shark Fins were first issued in Scotland in May 2004. The Marine and Fisheries Agency issues the permit on behalf of DEFRA. There are over 25 species of sharks in Scottish waters, over a quarter are considered threatened according to the IUCN red list, a further 30 per cent are considered near threatened.
- The only Scottish-based group of vessels who currently request shark finning permits are Anglo-Spanish vessels administered from Ayr and Ullapool. If approved, the new restrictions would prohibit the granting of special fishing permits other than in exceptional circumstances.
- Sharks are more vulnerable to overfishing because they mature slowly and give birth to only a few young at a time. They are prized for their meat; for their liver oil used in Omega-3 supplements, lipstick and haemorrhoid cream; and for their fins to make shark-fin soup. Data from 2005 and 2006 suggests that the UK had reported landings of around 10,000 tonnes, compared with around 350 tonnes for Germany, 15,000 for Portugal and 38,000 for Spain. Shark fins, (worth up to 500 €/kg), are exported to east and south-east Asia for processing and preparation of shark fin soup.
- The European Union is the world’s largest exporter of shark fins to China, the biggest consumer market. The number of permits issued to Anglo-Spanish vessels has been increasing over the last couple of years with requests for 16 permits this year. Without observers on board it is difficult to determine that a vessel has the capacity to use all parts of sharks and whether it can justify the need for the separate processing on board of shark fins and the remaining parts of the shark – these are the conditions for derogation from the prohibition on finning, and why making observers compulsory should reduce permit applications (the cost of the observer would be borne by the vessel) and improve compliance.
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