Beruflich Dokumente
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finning
unrecorded wastage
on a global scale
SHARK FINNING: Unrecorded SHARK STOCKS COLLAPSE
Wastage on a Global Scale
September 2003 Recent research has shown precipitous declines in many coastal
A report by WildAid and Co-Habitat and oceanic shark species in the Northwest Atlantic. It has been
estimated that, since 1986, hammerheads have declined by 89%,
This report was researched and written thresher sharks by 80%, white sharks by 79% and tiger sharks by
by Susie Watts 65%. All recorded shark species, with the exception of makos,
have declined by more than 50% in the past 8 to 15 years1.
Acknowledgements
Stocks of kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in the Azores and
Our thanks go to:
thornback ray (Raja clavata) in the North Sea have shown
Scott Radway severe declines and may be depleted. For the spiny dogfish
Jeff Rotman (Squalus acanthias) in the Northeast Atlantic, there is an
Kanchai Taechawanwakin
estimated decline in biomass since 1977 of over 5,000,000 to
Joe Richard
well below 100,000 in 2001, representing a 98% decline2.
Warren N. Joyce
Aaron Henderson Research published in May 2003 reveals that these steep
Juan Carlos Cantu declines in shark stocks are echoed across a much wider range
Sarah Fowler of predatory fish species. Trajectories of community biomass
Averil Bones and composition of large predatory fishes were constructed for
Environmental Investigation Agency
four continental shelf and nine oceanic systems, using data
Becky Zug
from the beginning of exploitation. Results of this research
Stephanie Carnow
showed that industrialised fisheries typically reduced
Erica Knie
community biomass by 80% within 15 years of the start of
Randall Arauz
exploitation. The Gulf of Thailand lost 60% of large finfish,
Cecilia Falconi
Godfrey Merlen
sharks and skates during the first five years of industrialised
Sonja Fordham trawl fishing3.
Merry Camhi
Rachel Cavanagh
The Homeland Foundation
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Stefan Schmidheiny
Stephen Wong
2
SHARK FINNING: UNRECORDED WASTAGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE
© Kanchai Taechawanwakin
BACKGROUND
The widespread practice of shark finning is
the result of a combination of factors:
increasing demand for shark fin, the
industrialisation of fishing techniques and
the changing economics of catching and
transporting fish products. Above: Finned shark in the Surin Archipelago, Andaman sea
It is likely that the volume of whole
sharks landed by fishing vessels around the the high seas would therefore be entirely for their fins in marine reserves, where a
world once provided sufficient fins to consistent with the FAO’s relatively small vessel can quickly decimate
supply the fin markets of east Asia and recommendations. shark populations.
amongst east Asian communities world- Data on shark finning are hard to find: it
wide. However, as shark meat is inferior to AUSTRALIAN FINNING
is not a practice that the fishing industry is
that of most commercially-exploited fish particularly proud of and, since the practice Few governments have studied, let alone
species, particularly tuna and billfish, the occurs at sea, the only witnesses are published data on, the prevalence of
profits to be made from shark meat are generally crew members, who benefit from finning on board their vessels. Australia is
naturally much lower. Limited on-board the income from the fins. However, there is one of the very few countries, possibly the
storage space, combined with the increasing enough evidence to suggest that finning is only one, that has systematically
value of shark fin, has made it economically widespread in numerous fisheries, that
advantageous to discard the bulky shark huge numbers of sharks are finned every
bodies while retaining the valuable fins, THE EXTENT OF SHARK FINNING
year and that the vast majority of these
which can be sun dried and stored very mortalities go unreported. It is impossible to establish how many
compactly without refrigeration. sharks are finned annually, as few
A combination of two factors has led to
The prevalence of shark finning is fishers admit to finning sharks. Only
an explosion in the demand for shark fin
occasionally, when large quantities of
serious enough for the UN Food and soup. Firstly, the rapid expansion of east Asian fins without corresponding carcasses are
Agriculture Oranisation (FAO) to have economies, particularly that of mainland seized, is the event recorded. However,
made recommendations for ending it. For China, has created a vastly increased middle- the IUCN Shark Specialist Group has
the FAO, with its strong emphasis on global class sector with disposable income.What made the following assessment:
food security, the decline in shark began as a rare and expensive delicacy is now “An initial comparison of some national
populations has become a cause of concern. standard fare at most weddings and corporate shark landings data and Hong Kong fin
In its 1999 International Plan of Action functions. Secondly, the consumption of import data from these countries
for the Conservation and Management of shark fin soup in China, previously frowned- indicate a significant mismatch (based
Sharks, the FAO recommended that upon as an elitist practice, was politically on widely-employed fin to body ratios
Member States implement National Plans “rehabilitated” in 19875.The result was a for shark carcasses). The conclusion we
of Action for sharks.The plan recommends draw is that the fins of tens of millions
massive upswing in the international fin
of sharks ‘missing’ from the landings
that Member States seek to “minimize trade, prompting fishermen worldwide to
data of many nations are appearing in
waste and discards from shark catches in target sharks for their fins and to remove the Hong Kong. Some of this mismatch may
accordance with article 7.2.2.(g) of the fins from sharks caught as bycatch in other be due to underreporting of shark
Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries fisheries. Fin traders have systematically landings, but observer data from high
(for example, requiring the retention of spread the word that fins are valuable to seas fisheries and reports of fin fisheries
sharks from which fins are removed)” 4. fishermen the world over, often providing in some developing countries indicate
A ban on shark finning, not only within equipment and monetary advances in order that many millions of sharks are being
individuals nations’ own waters but also on finned and discarded at sea2.”
to secure fins. Sharks are increasingly targeted
3
SHARK FINNING
4
ILLEGAL FISHING FOR SHARKS
© Pretoma
Management Authority stated that “almost
all are targeting shark fin. Any shark that
gets on that line is gone, they’re not fussy. Above: The Shen 1 Tsay 3
They like to target the big shovel-nose
shark, but if they can’t get them they’ll MAY 14TH: Eight illegal fishing boats were one illegal fishing boat in north Australian
take anything10. being escorted to Darwin by navy patrol waters every three days and that a Customs
boats after being caught poaching off patrol boat had just intercepted an illegal
The year 2003 has seen many more such
Australia’s northern coast over the previous vessel with seven crew members and 160
incursions by Indonesian vessels:
three days.The boats had come from the pieces of shark fin aboard.This brought the
JANUARY 24TH: the Australian port of Merauke in the Indonesian total of vessels seized in the first seven
authorities were reported to have province of Papua and Dobo. All had been months of 2003 to seventy-one19.
apprehended an illegal Indonesian fishing targeting shark fin17. AUGUST 21ST: it is reported that five more
boat 105 km inside the Australian Fishing
LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE: a further five Indonesian vessels have been apprehended
Zone. Seven crew members and a quantity
foreign fishing vessels were seized in in the past week, all containing fishing
of shark fins were found on board.11
northern Australian waters. All were equipment and shark fin20.
FEBRUARY 6TH: five fishing boats targeting sharks for their fins. In response SEPTEMBER 12TH & 13TH: five Indonesian
detained. Four of the five boats had shark to increasing illegal incursions into boats were apprehended in two separate
or shark fins aboard12. One trawler was Australian waters, the government allocated incidents.Three of the boats, caught fishing
found with 30 shark fins and seven crew a further A$75 million to fund the efforts illegally off Arnhem Land, were carrying
on board and a second vessel with two sets of enforcement agencies18. 40kg of shark fin.21 These incidents raised
of shark fins13.
JULY 2ND: it was reported that the Royal the number of boats caught fishing illegally
MARCH 24TH: an Australian Navy patrol Australian Navy and Customs were catching in Australian waters in 2003 to ninety.22
boat intercepted three vessels fishing more
than 50 nautical miles inside the Australian Below: These fishermen in Kupang, Indonesia, have been arrested in Australia but insist that
Fishing Zone. Each had large quantities of they will keep returning.
either fish or shark fins on board.This was
reported to have raised the year’s current
total of vessels apprehended for illegal
fishing in northern Australian waters to
twenty 14.The captain of one of the vessels
was later given a five-month jail sentence14.
APRIL 9TH: The vessel Bintang Timur was
caught 35 nautical miles inside the
Australian fishing zone on April 9. Five
other Indonesian vessels were also
apprehended in April and all of them were
reported to be fishing for shark fin15.
MAY 2ND: a magistrate jailed three
Indonesian fishermen for a total of 18
months after they had been caught fishing
illegally for shark fins in April16.
© WildAid
5
Caught red-handed
CANADA ‘The ease
In 1997, the captain of a Japanese fishing
with which
vessel, Shoshin Maru 38, was found
guilty of shark finning by a court in foreign
Halifax, after admitting that his crew had vessels
finned ten sharks. An on-board observer violate
had witnessed the crew cutting the fins
off ten blue sharks and throwing the Costa Rican
bodies back overboard. The observer had finning
also witnessed 895 blue sharks being regulations
landed on deck but when Fisheries
officials visited the vessel, only 520
is appalling’
carcasses were found, raising questions as Randall Arauz,
to the missing 375 carcasses. The captain Pretoma, Costa Rica,
May 2003.
admitted throwing 10 carcasses
overboard but claimed that at least 90
carcasses had been washed overboard Right: Finned tiger
during a storm. Inspectors also found shark caught by
430 sets of fins on board23. angler, Florida, USA
The Galapagos Islands and the Marine apprehended on the north coast of Santa fins.The remaining fins represent the
Reserve are subject to constant illegal Cruz that had been collecting fins from a bodies of a further 180 sharks that were
fishing raids, with vessels frequently wide area26. presumably discarded.Twenty-five miles
targeting sharks for their fins. Some vessels In March 2001 the industrial long liner (40 km) of long line had been laid across
are local, while others arrive from as far Maria Canella II was found fishing inside the Reserve27.
away as Japan to fish illegally for sharks24. the Marine Reserve. On board were 78 In July 2001,The Galapagos National
Since 1998, a minimum of 19,128 shark sharks and 1,044 shark fins. On average, Park Service (GNPS) discovered two
fins have been seized25. shark species produce four useable fins. vessels fishing illegally in the Reserve.
In 1998, 8,000 fins were discovered on The 78 sharks found on board would One was Costa Rican, the other
the Niño Dios, an Ecuadorian vessel have accounted for only 312 of the 1,044 Colombian. An inspection uncovered 619
shark fins and 100 shark bodies on board.
The species were thought to be
Below: Part of a seizure of 8,000 fins, Isabela Island, Galapagos hammerheads and blacktip sharks but
accurate identification was difficult as the
heads and fins had been removed.28
In 2003, a pick-up truck was
apprehended on Isabela island, and found
to be carrying 4,000 shark fins25.
In September 2003, the Ecuadorian
Navy and Park officials seized 815 shark
fins from an illegal fishing operation on
Isabela island, within the Reserve. Four
men, including a “Korean salesman”,
were arrested.29
COSTA RICA
© Parque Nacional Galápagos
6
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
The Coast Guard was informed and the seas that had violated US law.
fisheries authority, INCOPESCA, agreed Twenty per cent of the cargo was
to raid the premises. However, examined with a view to species
INCOPESCA later reported that the fins identification. Ninety percent of the fins
were from a different vessel. A legal were thought to be from blue sharks, the
authority was consulted, but was unable remainder being from silky sharks and
to issue a search warrant without the other species31.
agreement of INCOPESCA, who argued
PALAU
that video evidence of the fins alone was
insufficient and that there needed to be In May 2003, the government of Palau
evidence of the fins actually being incinerated 800 shark fins, confiscated
offloaded from the vessel. It later from a Taiwanese longliner fishing
transpired that the official cargo illegally in Palau’s waters. The seizure
declaration from Ho Tsai Fa No.18 was weighed almost one tonne. President
for 60,000kg of shark fins. The Remengesau stated that the blaze was
declaration had been signed by all the intended as a warning to foreign fishing
appropriate authorities.8 vessels that he would not tolerate shark
On 31 May 2003, a Coast Guard fishing in Palau’s waters32.
official conducted an off-duty check at a Press reports indicate that shark fishing
private dock. He discovered a cache of is becoming increasingly common in Palau,
fins weighing approximately 30 tonnes and that this is detrimental to the success
of Palau’s dive tourism industry 33.
THE USA
‘Palau is
In August 2002 the US Coast Guard
escorted into San Diego the King
not in the
Diamond II, an 82-foot fishing vessel, business
with 12 tons of prohibited shark fins on of selling
board. On arrival in San Diego, Fisheries
officials took possession of the fins and
shark fins,
interviewed the captain and crew as part nor do
of an ongoing investigation30. we want
The King Diamond II did not have
to be’
any fishing gear on board when it was
Palau’s President
seized. It was a collection vessel that had Tommy Remengesau,
© Scott Radway, freelance journalist
7
A Case Study: Costa Rica
Despite a ban on shark finning in its the carcasses, on each three-month trip. He
waters, huge quantities of fins are landed admitted that shark numbers are decreasing
in Costa Rica without the corresponding in the waters around Costa Rica, but that
carcasses. Recent cases, such as the enough remain to make it worth while
discovery of 30 tonnes of fins without staying on. Seventy percent of his catch is
© Pretoma
carcasses, are described elsewhere in this described as “black sharks” while 20% are
report. The large number of foreign, blue sharks. He estimated that there are
particularly Taiwanese, vessels finning around 200 Taiwanese vessels operating
sharks just outside Costa Rica’s Exclusive from Costa Rica but only half of them are
Economic Zone is blamed by local fishers based there permanently.The rest remain at
for declines in their shark catches.There sea for long periods and go straight home
are also vessels from Korea, Portugal, with their catch.
Spain, Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela, An official with the Costa Rican Coast
some of which are reported to be finning Guard stated that incidents such as the
sharks caught by tuna longliners. Some 30-tonne fin landing probably happened
foreign vessels land their catches at private regularly. He reported that, while national
© WildAid
docks: others return home without ever fleets sometimes fin sharks, their capacity is
docking in Costa Rica. limited. It is the international fleets, with
sophisticated technology and a large
SHARK FISHING Top: Sacks of shark fins found on quayside
carrying capacity, that engage in extensive next to Taiwanese vessel Ho Tsai Fa No.18 in
Puntarenas is Costa Rica’s largest fishing finning operations. Puntarenas, Costa Rica, July 2003.
port and a centre for fin trading.A local
THE FIN TRADE Above: Taiwanese fishing vessel, Puntarenas,
fisherman stated that the huge influx of
Costa Rica
foreign fishing fleets had seriously impacted Numerous foreign-owned fin trading
local fisheries. He was one of a number of companies operate in Puntarenas. Some
fishermen who said that all blue sharks are own fishing vessels and market their fins
CONCLUSIONS
automatically finned and that all shark internationally. Others simply collect fins
Costa Rica, like many of the smaller
bycatch caught on tuna longliners is finned. and sell to the larger companies for export.
One trader, who exports large quantities of countries that play host to foreign,
Local fishermen have become
frozen fins, reported that his shark fins are industrialised fishing fleets, is losing a
extremely frustrated by the number of
all pre-ordered by traders in east Asia. valuable resource to a relatively small
foreign vessels finning sharks. Interviews
Not all fins are exported directly to the number of wealthy foreign business interests.
with four of them revealed that:
main markets, however. A dealer in The ban on shark finning is not being
• Local fleets are having to go further out Indonesia told researchers that he had enforced in Costa Rica because of a lack of
because the near shore waters are resources and, it would seem, a lack of
recently purchased 20 tonnes of trans-
depleted and local fishers are having to political will.The high level political
shipped fins from Costa Rica.
spend more money on gasoline and relationship between Costa Rica and
equipment; PRIVATE DOCKS Taiwan may also be compromising efforts
Despite laws forbidding the landing of to enforce the finning ban.
• Thirty years ago, their boats were full
after two days: now the catch is very fishery products at private docks, all the The use of privately-owned docks in
small, even after 15 days. Fishers believe foreign-owned fishing vessels land their Costa Rica facilitates illegal activity and
some species are virtually extinct in catches at secure, barricaded docks. precludes both monitoring of fisheries and
local waters and they anticipate a local Hidden from view, fishing vessels are law enforcement.The new laws may
collapse of shark stocks if trends known to unload huge volumes of shark address this problem, but fin traders the
continue; fins, often late at night, with few or no world over are known for their ability to
corresponding carcasses. remain one step ahead of the law.
• Depleted near-shore waters will result in Following recent local concerns about Costa Rica’s well-deserved reputation as
fishers targeting marine reserves such as the lack of transparency about landings, a prime eco-tourism destination indicates
Cocos Island; new legislation (16th July 2003) now that successive administrations have
A Taiwanese businessman, who owns requires fishing vessels to undergo recognised the immense value of the
numerous vessels in Puntarenas and exports inspection at nearby Caldera port before tourism industry. However, if shark finning
large quantities of fins, reported that his proceeding to their private docks. continues at current levels, its marine
company’s vessels target sharks for their fins However, there remain deep concerns ecosystem will be greatly impoverished and
and can land “a few tonnes” of fins, minus about the inspection procedures. a major attraction for tourists will be lost.35
8
A murky business
Over the past ten years a series of gangland eliminate a rival in the shark fin business.
murders has been carried out by Huynh had control of the shark-fin
individuals engaged in the shark fin trade, business at Pier 17 – where fins could be
highlighting the lengths to which some fin purchased from returning longliners –
traders will go to ensure continuing profits. when another dealer tried to move in on
his turf. Huynh offered a friend US$5,000
FIJI
to shoot the man39.
On August 25th 2003, it was reported that
Fiji police had enlisted the help of Interpol SOUTH AFRICA
in investigations into the gangland-style In the early 1990s the Endangered Species
killing of three Hong Kong nationals and a Protection Unit of the South African Police
Fijian.While the Fiji police would not arrested a Taiwanese man, Michael Shen, for
© McCoubrey/WildAid
comment on a possible motive for the possession of rhino horn40.
attack, a report in Hong Kong's South Shen later became involved in the shark
China Sunday Morning Post quoted police fin trade. In May 1994 Shen was kidnapped
in the Pacific nation as saying the crime and his body was later found in bushes, in
was connected to the shark-fin industry. an incident believed to have been connected Above: Fins drying at Cape Town Docks
A police spokesman expressed fears to his activities in the fin trade41.
about the sophistication of the weapons In December 1996 two Taiwanese
used in the murders 36. businessmen – Shin Yi and Li Ko Wei – “There is quite a lot of
It was later reported that a Chinese office-bearers in a major shark fin
Taiwanese, Hong Kong
businessman was being questioned by the syndicate – died in a hail of bullets at
police, who speculated that the incident Cape Town harbour41. This left the and Chinese and Korean
could have been the result of “a business deal syndicate vulnerable to a take-over by a fishing vessels that ply
gone wrong”. It was reported that Asian rival gang, so remaining members decided Fiji waters and they bring
businessmen can buy shark fins for as little as to bring in a “fixer” from Taiwan, a man
six Fiji (three US) dollars a kilo, which named Cheng Cheng-Chi, alias “White in quite a lot of shark
fisheries officials say are then usually sold for Monkey”, who already had a fearsome fins . . . and they re-export
more than 20 US dollars a kilo. Police reputation in Taiwan. It was believed that them to China and Hong
suggested that rivals could have been fighting he would be able to see off any rivals and
maintain total control of the trade41.
Kong at very lucrative
for space in the lucrative fin trade sector37.
In May 1999 South African police were prices indeed”.
HAWAII given a tip-off about a gangland murder, Fiji Police spokesperson Mesake Koroi, speaking
In April 2002, a Chinese cook accused of which led to the discovery of the bodies of about a gangland murder, August 2003.
stabbing to death the captain and first a Taiwanese businessman and his son, each
mate aboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel was killed with a single shot to the head.
brought to trial in Honolulu on charges Liao Shing-Hsiung Hsiung and his son, posing as shark fin salesmen.The owner
of mutiny on the high seas. Shi Lei was Liao Jen-wu, were the owners of the was bound hand and foot, while a worker
accused of killing the two men during an Eternity Shipping and Chandling company42. was stabbed in the arm and back by the
argument aboard the Full Means II, while A Police spokesman said that they were escaping robbers44.
the vessel was in international waters.The investigating a possible link between the In February 2003, a warrant was issued
first mate’s body was found in the ship’s deaths and the lucrative trade in smuggling for the arrest of a Chinese woman, Zhu
freezer; the captain’s body had been shark fin and abalone from South Africa to Jing, who went into hiding after witnessing
thrown overboard. East Asia, adding that Chinese Triad gangs a murder connected to what the South
The reason for the killings had not had moved in force into what was previously African press referred to as the “Chinese
been established at the time of the arrest a local cottage industry42.Three years later, Mafia sharkfin war”45.
but human rights abuses at sea and the “White Monkey” was arrested in Cape A shootout at the Taiwan City Karaoke
practice of catching sharks and slicing off Town for the murder of the Taiwanese father Bar in Cape Town resulted in charges of
their fins were cited in the press as being and son, and was repatriated to Taiwan43. attempted murder and the illegal possession
connected to the case38. In February 2001, the owner of a Cape of firearms and ammunition. One of the
In December 1999, shark fin dealer Town shark-fin exporting business was accused, Su Chan Chun, was sentenced to
Hung Van Huynh appeared in a Hawaii robbed of 7,000 Rand, plus shark fins house arrest and was subsequently murdered
court accused of hiring a hit man to valued at 40,000 Rand, by four men at his home, witnessed by Jing45.
9
A Case Study: Indonesia
Many of the 6,000 inhabited islands of
Indonesia are home to extensive shark
fishing – and finning – operations.There is
a handful of shark fin trading “hotspots”,
where fins from surrounding islands are
collected for export to east Asia.There are
at least two starting-off points for illegal
incursions into Australian waters, where
sharks are routinely finned.
Indonesia is unusual in that there are
fin traders who process shark fins before
exporting them. Normally, traders in
© WildAid
Hong Kong and Taiwan prefer to import
whole dried or frozen fins and do the
processing themselves. Left: A fishing harbour, Indonesia
ROTE
Australia claimed that even those fishers Bali’s longline fleet is stationed at Tanjong
Rote is a small island to the west of Timor
sentenced to prison terms were given a Benoa.A fisherman there admitted that shark
and is reputed (along with Kupang) to be
small wage for working, and were allowed carcasses were all thrown away.Three fin
one of the main starting points for illegal
to play football and attend English classes. dealers claimed to be able to provide around
fishing incursions into Australian waters.
Papela is the largest fishing village on Rote, 4-5 tonnes per month between them. One
KUPANG
where sharks are the main target catch and dealer had 200-300 kgs of very large, frozen
Kupang is a local fin collection centre, from fins and a further tonne of dried fin, some of
shark fin is the main marine item traded from where fins are sent to Surabaya or Ujung
the village. Papela has around 100 longline which was being processed on the spot. He
Pandang.Wooden longliner and seine boats described them as being from oceanic white
boats that target sharks, sixty of which are fish the waters around this area but they
owned by one individual. He holds most of tips, threshers, blacktips and blue sharks. His
also go further afield, to Australia. On a fins are all sent through Surabaya.A visit to a
the fin stocks and can supply up to 300kg of “good” trip, each boat can land 100kg of
dried fins per month during the season from shark fin warehouse revealed that another
fins and one of the fin dealers reported dealer, who exports directly to Singapore,
his own boats and up to 500kg if he collects being able to supply between 500 and
from other traders. Most of the fins landed in also processes fins on the premises. He had
1,000 kgs of fin per month. 3-4 tonnes of dried fins at the time.
Rote are taken to Surabaya, which has a large
Chinese population and is one of the main BALI It was reported in Bali that shark
centres for fins. Bali is a major fishing centre and home cartilage is now increasingly in demand.
Australia’s waters are a popular port for many of the commercial fisheries After fin removal, shark bodies are often
destination for the fishermen, as they can be operating throughout eastern Indonesia. filleted and the cartilage removed.The rest
reached in “a day and a night” and are Many of the boats are longliners, but there of the body is then thrown out.
described as having plentiful shark stocks. are also extensive seine operations.The Much of Bali’s fin trade is controlled by
Initial investigations reveal that some, but by main fisheries are for tuna, swordfish and Taiwanese interests and it is they who
no means all, sharks that are caught locally mahi-mahi and the Ministry of Fisheries in control shark fin prices in Bali.There is a
are landed whole. However, reports from Indonesia has recently issued new fishing local ‘Taiwan Town’ in Bali, known as
Australia indicate that shark finning is licenses to Taiwanese and Japanese ‘Sesetan’, where all the Taiwanese fishermen
prevalent in the illegal fisheries operated by companies.These are believed by locals to and businessmen reside. However, Bali is
Indonesian vessels and the Indonesian take huge quantities of fins.A Taiwanese also home to a large number of
fishers themselves admit to finning sharks boat owner in Bali reported that sharks are Singaporean Triad members.
on these incursions. always finned on his fleet. Researchers were informed by a
Despite repeated arrests by the Australian Indonesian law requires that even wholly Taiwanese dealer that traders could buy fins
Coast Guard, and the subsequent foreign-owned fishing boats must be given directly from the very large companies.
destruction of their fishing boats, fishermen Indonesian names and fly the Indonesian However, if buying on a smaller scale, they
have later returned to Australia to catch flag, but a fin dealer in Bali reported that needed to buy from “representatives of the
sharks and insist that they will continue to there were 200 Taiwanese-owned longliners police” as did all of the Taiwanese and
do so, since the penalties are “light”.A stationed there.An unknown number of Japanese companies.
fisherman who had been arrested twice in longliners in Bali are Japanese-owned. The dealer also reported that, although
10
A CASE STUDY: INDONESIA SHARK FINNING REGULATIONS
11
SHARK FIN SEIZURES
SHARK FIN SEIZURES 80 kilograms. Chern Whan Yee was charged have smuggled 2.3 tons of fins into
with avoiding customs duty48. China and to have sold them on the
GUAM domestic market for a huge profit 50.
NAMIBIA
In 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard conducting The Chinese government has
In February 2003 Namibian Police
a routine port patrol seized thousands of imposed heavy tariffs on shark fins to
confiscated more than 800 boxes of
pounds of shark fins from foreign fishing restrain imports. Fins may be imported
contraband cigarettes from two Chinese
companies operating at Guam’s tax-free, but only on condition that
nationals. Hidden with the cigarettes
commercial port. The fins were stored in they are then re-exported. Fins
were large quantities of shark fins and
containers at the port. In one container imported into China for domestic sale
65 kgs of abalone, reported to have
alone, there were 4,400 pounds (c. two are subject to heavy tariffs.
come from South Africa46.
metric tonnes) of fins. This seizure was The estimated value of the smuggled
THAILAND fin was US$500,000, representing an
one of a series that has occurred since the
In January 2002, a Taiwanese evasion of US$35,000 of tax 50.
US shark finning regulations came into
fisherman was arrested in possession
force in 2000. SOUTH AFRICA
of 42 shark fins. After a tip-off,
Although Guam does not itself have In July 2001, three containers of
Phuket Marine Police arrested the
any large-scale commercial fishing illegal fish and fish products were
man as he moored his boat,
companies, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan offloaded from a Taiwanese fishing
“Jufusun”, at Rassada Port.
and Indonesia are known to operate vessel and seized in Port Elizabeth,
The man, subsequently identified by
commercial fishing vessels in the region49. South Africa. One of the containers
police as Chua Teng Juan, left the boat
CHINA held four million Rands’ worth of
carrying a large, white, bloodstained
In March 2001, three aquatic processing shark fins. In total there were 80
bag. When police asked him to open it,
workshops in Nanhai City, south China, sacks, each weighing 100 kilograms,
they found the shark fins47. Less than a
were discovered by Customs officials to filled with shark fins. The cargo was
month later, another tip-off led to the
have smuggled a large quantity of shark falsely declared as comprising 80 tons
arrest of a second Taiwanese fisherman
fins. The three companies were found to of Albacore or skipjack tuna51.
in possession of 115 shark fins weighing
12
SHARK FIN TRADERS
© WildAid
responsibility for current trends.
A recently-published report on the dried
seafood trade in Asia has revealed that one
trader, who considers himself a medium-sized
operator, had a turnover of $771,000 US per HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?
month. Given a profit margin of between
10-15%, one of Hong Kong’s largest dealers,
© WildAid
rumoured to have a turnover of $129 million
US per year, could be making an annual
profit of at least $12 million US54.
© Environmental Investigation Agency
13
HOW TO BAN SHARK FINNING
© Michael Bjornbak
and other products made from shark and Shanghai sell 12-gramme boxes
fin are now becoming commonplace. of fin fibre for US$6.5060.
• Singapore now boasts $8.99 • Press reports from Singapore reveal
All-You-Can-Eat shark fin buffets59. that the economic recession has
• Japanese consumers can now buy prompted consumers to opt for
shark fin bread, sweet shark fin cheaper, mass produced shark fins61. Above: Shark fin catfood, Japan
cookies, shark fin sushi, instant shark While it may be argued that this
fin noodles at US$4.20 per serving development will reduce the “mystique” encourage consumers to believe that
and, perhaps most alarming of all, of shark fin and, thereby, its consumption, they can still buy into the symbolism of
shark fin cat food60. it seems far more likely that it will simply shark fin but at a price affordable to all.
14
Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusions “The IUCN Shark Specialist Group considers that shark
While there are many factors influencing the finning threatens many shark stocks, the stability of
global decline in shark populations, there is marine ecosystems, sustainable traditional fisheries,
no doubt that shark finning is a major – and
food security and socio-economically important
entirely unnecessary – contributor.The shark
fin trade has become so lucrative that the recreational fisheries.” SSG Finning Position Statement, May 2003
practice of finning is now no longer
confined to sharks taken as bycatch. Sharks contributed in any meaningful way to Recommendations
are increasingly being caught for their fins development in the poorer shark fishing
alone and, because the meat is of far lesser nations. In recent years, divers have reported Many steps need to be taken globally to
value, the shark is often dumped at sea. a perceptible decline in shark sightings in conserve sharks, including stock
Shark finning is contrary to the many parts of the world and some have assessments, research on landings and
principles of the UN FAO Code of reported seeing the sea-bed “littered” with species composition, bycatch reduction,
Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Article the carcasses of finned sharks. the imposition of strict catch quotas and
7.2.2(g)) and to the guiding principles and Shark finning does not discriminate by seasonal and area closures where
aims of the UN FAO International Plan for species or by age/size.While species and necessary, as well as trade restrictions,
the Conservation and Management of stocks vary in abundance and distribution, where appropriate, and improved
Sharks (IPOA-Sharks). those of the greatest conservation concern Customs data at species level. However,
Shark finning is also contrary to the spirit and least widespread distribution will action on shark finning cannot wait for
of the preamble to the UN Law of the Sea, continue to be taken in diminishing these steps to be taken. For some species
which stresses the need for “an equitable numbers as bycatch in fisheries for more it may already be too late, but for many
international economic order which takes abundant fish species and, as a result, could others there is still time. Shark finning is
into account the interests and needs of be driven to extremely low levels, if not to a global problem and only a concerted
mankind as a whole and, in particular, the extinction. international effort will bring about a
special interests and needs of developing Shark finning precludes the collection of global solution.
countries”.The dumping of millions of the species-specific data that are urgently In a world where growing human
sharks at sea has resulted in significantly needed if global shark landings are to be populations are facing declining fish
decreased shark catches in many developing monitored in any meaningful way.Without stocks, throwing away 95% of a valuable
countries. Fishers in eastern India and on such data, it will be impossible to implement source of protein for the sake of an
the east and west coasts of Africa have sustainable shark fisheries management as unnecessary luxury is not, or should not
reported serious declines in their catches, required under various international be, an option.
dating back to the arrival of large, industrial agreements. • The United Nations General Assembly
(and usually foreign) fishing vessels off their Recent research using computer should vote to impose an immediate
coastlines. Many of these vessels breach modelling has shown that the removal of prohibition on shark finning and the
fishing agreements by operating well within sharks from their ecosystems could have trans-shipment of fins on the high seas.
the area set aside for local fishers. Food devastating and unpredictable consequences • Individual nations should enact
security among many coastal communities for the abundance of commercially- domestic legislation prohibiting shark
in the developing world is being important fish stocks. Sharks, as apex finning and trans-shipment within their
compromised by the increasing demand for predators, regulate the abundance of other own jurisdictions and this legislation
shark fin soup, a symbol of luxury wealth fish and are therefore keystone species in the must be rigorously enforced.
and generosity among east Asian health of our ocean ecosystems.The practice • It is imperative that more countries
communities worldwide. It is a luxury that of shark finning is capable of removing implement the FAO’s International Plan
sharks – and those who depend upon them entire stocks of sharks within a very short of Action for Sharks. Countries in the
for protein – cannot afford. space of time. developing world with significant
Sharks are becoming increasingly Many species of shark are highly shark fisheries should be given every
encouragement – and funding where
attractive to recreational divers, bringing migratory by nature.They are a truly global
needed – to carry out research on their
millions of dollars in foreign exchange to resource.The efforts of a growing number
shark fisheries as a first step towards
countries in both the developed and of nations to enforce laws prohibiting shark
devising Plans of Action.
developing world. By contrast, while the finning in their own waters are consistently
trade in shark fins has created a handful of undermined by the fact that sharks can
millionaires in Hong Kong and Taiwan as a travel many thousands of kilometres into
result of inflated profit margins, it has not waters where finning is legal.
15
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16