The UK will go further than any other country to stop the cruel practice of shark finning, thanks to new legislation set to ban the import and export of shark fin products. The new ban on the import and export of detached shark fins, and products containing them, helping to put a stop to this cruel practice as the UK continues to lead the world in ocean protection and conservation.
Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire, said:
The cruel practice of shark finning is rightly banned in UK waters, but the trade continues causing thousands of sharks – many of which are critically endangered – to die terrible deaths every year.
The new ban on the import and export of shark fins and shark fin products like tinned shark fin soup will help to put a stop to the vile trade by removing demand for the products and send a clear message that the practice is unacceptable.
The UK is a world leader on marine protection and animal welfare and this unprecedented ban will mean that we are going further than any other country to stop shark finning and protect these magnificent creatures.
The UK has been pressing for stronger international action to protect sharks against unsustainable fishing practices and shark finning, which is the practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and discarding the finless body back into the water.
Many species of shark face significant population pressures. Out of over 500 species of shark, 143 are listed as ‘under threat’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature – with different species ranging from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘critically endangered’. The presence and variety of sharks in marine areas acts as a key indicator for ocean health while the animals also play a vital role in marine ecosystems by helping to maintain healthy levels of fish below them in the food chain.
Demand for shark fin products is a significant driver for these pressures, alongside over-fishing. Banning detached fins from being brought into the UK will help to protect wild populations of shark species, such as the endangered short fin mako shark and overfished blue shark, which have both declined rapidly as a result of unsustainable fishing practices.
The ban will maintain the UK’s position as a world leader in protecting animal welfare restricting the import of and export of detached shark fins as well as products which contain shark fins including soup and other products.
The announcement is part of the Government’s plan to eradicate cruel practices and improve standards both domestically and overseas as set out in our Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
