Fisheries Agency,Ministry of Agriculture

Reason and Planning for Promoting the Policy of “Shark’s Fins Naturally Attached”

Sharks are top predators in the marine ecosystem, and they are able to maintain natural balance of the marine food chain. Currently, the measures on conservation and management of sharks applied by the international fisheries management organizations are banning of fishing on shark species with reclining population, and requiring a maximum of 5% fin to carcass ratio on shark catches. However, the measure of 5% fin to carcass ratio is not able to rid the concern of possible shark finning as well as to ensure sustainable use of shark resources. As such, countries such as the United States, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Columbia, and Chile promoted the measure of Shark’s fin naturally attached, and trying to push the adoption of such measure in international fisheries management organizations.

In order to ensure sustainable utilization of shark resources, and to prevent shark finning and catching of protected shark species, on 19 January 2012, the Council of Agriculture promulgated the Directions on the Disposal of the Fins of Shark Catches of Fishing Vessels, for promoting the measure of shark’s fins naturally attached. The measure was to be implemented progressively from coastal to distant water, from large vessels to small vessels, and for those shark catches landed at foreign ports, the measure of the port State or that adopted by the respective RFMO should be applied.

Under the measure, fishing vessels were divided into three categories: fishing vessels using ice to preserve shark catches, fishing vessels over 100 GRT preserving shark catches by freezing, and fishing vessels over 100 GRT preserving shark catches by freezing. Each type of vessel had its transitional period for implementation, during which a package measure of 5% fin to carcass ratio on shark catches or tying fins on the shark carcass was applicable. At the outset of implementation of the measure, fine was imposed on offenders, and later more severe sanction as suspension of fishing license was applied. The measure was due to apply in it entirety as from 1 July 2013.