Finless sharks are often thrown back into the sea, where they drown. Trade in tiger shark, which is considered a luxury delicacy in East Asia, has not been significantly regulated by international agreements before.
The Cites meeting on the conservation of endangered species decided to add more than 50 species of tiger and hammerhead sharks to the list of animals whose international trade is regulated because they are at risk of becoming endangered without regulation. Some shark species are already endangered or highly endangered.
The decision made by the Cites meeting in Panama can be considered historic, as it would greatly expand the protection of sharks.
The decision still needs to be finally approved at the Cites meeting on November 25.
– Before this, 25 percent of the traded shark species were protected. Now 70 percent of the species will be protected, said a representative of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Luke Warwick.
Panama’s proposal to add sharks to the list was supported by 88 countries and opposed by 29 countries. 17 abstained from voting. According to news agencies, the vote was preceded by a heated debate. The vote was secret.
The decision is a tough one for Japan, Peru and China, among others
Especially in East Asia, shark fin soup is considered a great delicacy and a status symbol. The price of haine trade is estimated to be up to 500 million dollars a year. The price of a kilo of haine can reach a thousand dollars.
The hainevä business flourishes, for example, in Hong Kong, which belongs to China. Conservationists’ campaigns are to reduce the consumption of fin soup, but consumption is still significant.
WCS estimates that at least 70 percent of the shark fins that end up being traded come from species belonging to the tiger shark family.
The countries have one year to implement the decisions of the Cites meeting.
Sharks that are finned by fishermen often drown because they cannot swim without fins.
You can discuss the topic on 19.11. until 11 p.m.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, AP, STT