Shark finning is an incredibly wasteful practice do Irish boats kill shark

It’s great to hear that Scotland is to outlaw the taking of shark fins for the Asian market and this will apply to all Scottish based vessels immaterial of where they are fishing, and also to any other vessel fishing inside the Scottish zone.

Special permits have been required to take shark fins since 2004, but the rule is now to become absolute with no exceptions.

European Union countries have been the main exporter of shark fins with untold numbers of blue, thresher and porbeagle sharks, amongst other shark species, being heavily fished resulting in a dramatic downturn in overall numbers and breeding stock.

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead has urged Brussels to follow Scotland’s lead and said, “Some shark populations are close to extinction, so I am delighted that Scotland is bringing to an end such a barbaric practice. As one of Europe’s most important fishing nations we have a duty to show that we are serious about protecting the sustainability of our seas, their stocks and the wider marine eco-system, not just through words but with action.”

The taking of shark fins is one of the most horrendous and wasteful commercial fishing practices with the fins cut from the still live sharks which are then thrown back over the side to sink to the bottom and die a lingering death. In effect 90% or more of the shark is wasted!

Louize Hill, Marine Policy Officer of conservation group WWF Scotland, said: "We warmly welcome this ban. Shark finning is an incredibly wasteful practice, with many species targeted threatened with extinction. It has become clear that the only effective way to protect these vulnerable species is through a ban. We back the strong line taken by the Scottish government and urge the European Commission to follow Scotland's lead and ensure sharks are offered full protection in all European waters."

The Shark Trust’s Director of conservation, Ali Hood, said: "We applaud Scotland on its further action in urging the European Commission to review the finning legislation and ensure all sharks caught by European vessels are landed with their fins naturally attached."

The UK government is to now follow suit and will stop issuing special permits that condone this slaughter. Shark finning was banned by the EU as early as 2003, but loopholes were left allowing this horrendous practice to continue including in UK waters for UK registered vessels. Finally we hear the UK government is to put a full ban on all shark finning around the UK, and not before time!

Spain and Portugal are still killing sharks for their fins and need to be brought in line ASAP!

Although this legislation won’t fully stop the commercial killing of sharks, it will require that all sharks landed have their fins still naturally attached and this, in itself, will dramatically reduce the killing of sharks as the fins are the by far the most valuable part for the Asian market fetching as much as £200 per kilo.