No shark conservation blog is complete without a discussion of what's being done to stop shark "finning" -- the wasteful and indefensible practice of slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body back to the sea. Shark fins are in high demand for "shark fin soup," which is considered a status symbol in Asia. Shark finning has been banned by many (still not most) fishing nations and by most international fisheries bodies, but the means used to enforce the bans vary widely. Ocean Conservancy has been working with groups like the Pew Environment Group (www.pewtrusts.org) and the Humane Society (www.hsus.org) to strengthen U.S rules on shark finning.
Most shark scientists and conservationists agree that the best way to ensure an end to finning is to prohibit the removal of shark fins at sea. This "fins-attached" strategy takes the guesswork out of enforcement and can help in identification of species caught. Costa Rica has been a champion of this method, thanks in large part to the conservation group Pretoma (www.tortugamarina.org). Most finning bans, however, are still enforced through a complicated fin to body weight ratio.
The "fins-attached" strategy is now at last gaining momentum. It was encouraged by the United Nations last fall and will take effect for U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico fisheries on July 24. Over the last few months, thanks to Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, the U.S. House of Representatives developed and adopted a bill to prohibit the removal of shark fins at sea, close other loopholes in the national finning law, and encourage shark conservation in other countries. For the bill to become law, the Senate needs to take similar action. You can help by contacting your senator and expressing your support for a stronger U.S. finning ban. With improved national legislation, the U.S. will be well positioned to press for stronger finning bans and shark conservation programs around the world.
PHOTO: Fisherman holding knife and dorsal fin from hammerhead shark. (Photo by Jeff Rotman/ Getty Images )
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