U.S. Coast Guard Seizure of Vessel Carrying 12 Tons of Illegal Shark Fins Signals Need for Tougher International Laws

8/28/2002

From: Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 508-744-2076 or jfm@ifaw.org

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Coast Guard has seized a Honolulu-based fishing vessel carrying 12 tons of illegal shark fins in violation of the U.S. Shark Finning Prohibition Act (SFPA), penalties for which can reach $120,000, and can include the seizure of the fishing vessel. Conservation groups around the world including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW - www.ifaw.org) applaud the Coast Guard for its actions.

The demand for shark fins in Asia drives the cruel practice of finning, in which, often, live sharks' fins are cut off and the shark is thrown back into the water (their meat generally not seen as being economically viable). According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the international shark fin trade increased tenfold between 1980 and 1990. Single, large basking shark fins have been reported on sale in China for more than US$15,000.

Most shark species grow slowly, mature late and produce few offspring, which means that they are particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation. Basking and whale sharks are the two species most at risk, while some species may have declined by as much as 80 percent in the past decade. Overall, at least 100 million sharks are caught every year for their fins or as fisheries bycatch.

"Sharks species have come under intense pressure over the last decade to fuel the demand for the Asian delicacy of shark fin soup," said IFAW President Fred O'Regan. "The problem now is that the high prices that fishermen can get for these fins is driving the industry to overexploit the species most at risk - the great basking and whale sharks.

"If global protection for these sharks is not implemented soon, the damage to these species could be irreparable," said O'Regan.

In addition to national efforts to protect these species, such as the U.S.'s SFPA, several nations have taken the issue to the global level. At this year's meeting of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), being held this November in Santiago, Chile, the U.K and Ireland (on behalf of the E.U.) have put forward a proposal to list the basking shark to Appendix II. Also, India and the Philippines have joined together to propose that the whale shark be listed to Appendix II as well.

IFAW has called on all member nations of CITES to vote in favor of these proposals, and has also launched its own research of the basking shark. During the month of September, IFAW's marine research vessel, Song of the Whale, will carry out a survey of basking shark behavior in the Hebridean waters off of Scotland.

--- NOTES TO EDITORS

(1) The basking shark is the world second largest fish after the whale shark, growing up to well over 30 feet long. It is present in temperate waters throughout the world and sightings of this massive, enigmatic animal basking on the waters surface, filtering plankton through its gills and toothless mouth, off the UK coast are not uncommon. There are 46 confirmed range states, possibly over 60 worldwide.

(2) If successful, an Appendix II listing would result in better monitoring and regulation of the international trade in basking shark parts in order to avoid over depletion of this species.

--- Editors: For more information about IFAW and important issues to be decided at this year's CITES meeting visit www.ifaw.org.