Shark Alliance Marks Global Ocean Policy Day.
13th May 2009
"It's up to the Commission to promptly deliver a legislative proposal to close loopholes in the finning ban and up to Mr. Borg to provide the leadership needed for Commission's follow through on this and other key commitments to shark conservation," said Sonja Fordham, Shark Alliance Policy Director.
The European Commission released in February 2009 the long-awaited Community Plan of Action for Sharks, which sets the stage for sweeping improvements in EU shark policies, including the finning ban.
"The Shark Alliance appreciated the pledge to strengthen the EU finning ban that Mr. Borg made when releasing the EU Shark Plan. Since then, however, the Commission's main action on sharks has been to propose weakening of the Indian Ocean finning ban," continued Fordham.
"At the same time, the Commission has been reluctant to commit to making the amendment of the EU finning ban a top priority, as urged by many EU Member States, scores of NGOs, and tens of thousands of European citizens," Fordham concluded.
The EU (primarily Spain) is the lead supplier for the global shark fin trade, which is driven by demand for the Asian delicacy, shark fin soup. The EU finning ban is currently among the weakest in the world.
Most EU shark species have no protection beyond the finning ban.