A historic turning point in the UK: Importing and exporting shark fins (and related products) becomes banned by law
For decades, catching sharks and cutting off their fins has been a widespread practice in the UK. But now the British government has decided to put an end to this atrocity by passing a revolutionary law banning the import and export of shark fins and shark fin products.
It is the first country in Europe to take such an important step in favor of these large marine predators, which are among the most threatened species in the world. Although shark fishing is banned in UK waters, the highly lucrative clandestine trade continued, in many cases undisturbed.
Shark Finning is incredibly cruel and causes the terrible deaths of thousands of sharks. The practice is rightfully banned in UK waters, but the trade continues, with serious implications for the future of these magnificent creatures - Animal Welfare Minister Peter Goldsmith announced - That's why we now ban the import of both detached shark fins. than shark fin products. Our action will not only help increase the number of sharks, but it will send a clear message that we do not support an industry that is leading to the extinction of many species.
What does the new law that bans Shark Finning provide?
The new British law aims to counter the so-called Shark Finning, an inhumane practice that consists of cutting the fins of live sharks and then throwing the injured animals into the ocean, where they painfully die from suffocation, bleeding or are eaten by other predators. The fins are then sold at a high price to be used for food purposes or as accessories.
To protect sharks, marine animals now on the verge of extinction, the British government has therefore prohibited:
- theimport and export shark fins
- la sale of products derived from shark fins, including canned shark fin soup (specialty of Chinese cuisine)
In addition, the British institutions have introduced new protection measures especially for species such as lo shortfin mako shark and verdesca.
Sharks on the verge of extinction
Sharks are in danger of disappearing from our oceans forever within a few decades, mainly due to illegal fishing and the practice of Shark Finning. As many as 143 out of 500 shark species have been classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
According to a report published a few years ago, Europe is the continent in which shark meat is consumed most (with Spain among the top 5 consumer countries in the world). Illegal fishing of these fish is seriously jeopardizing its survival. Very often the shark is portrayed as a dangerous predator even for humans. In fact, the presence of sharks is a symptom of a good state of health of the oceans and these animals also play a key role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem.
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Source: gov.uk
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