Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead today received the ‘Shark Champion Award’ in recognition of Scotland’s new ban on the removal of fins from sharks at sea which came into force on January 1.
Over a quarter of Scotland’s 25 species of shark are currently under threat. Scotland is the first country in Europe to introduce legislation to prevent permits from being issued to vessels. Scotland’s ban is currently the strongest in the European Union.
The Shark Trust Director of Conservation, Ali Hood, said:
“This award to Mr Lochhead and the Scottish Government is the first of its kind to policy makers and reflects their decisive action in addressing the issue of shark finning. It also recognises Scotland’s ongoing efforts in urging all EU Member States to follow their lead.
“An end to special fishing permits and a requirement to land sharks with their fins naturally attached greatly improves the opportunity for effective shark management. It also marks significant progress towards implementation of aspects of the EU Community Plan of Action for Sharks.”
Mr Lochhead said:
“With some shark populations teetering on the brink of extinction, I’m delighted that legislation around shark finning has been strengthened to ensure that Scottish fishermen do not remove fins.
“We have worked closely with the Shark Trust and industry representatives to lead the rest of Europe by example and introduce a complete ban on this barbaric practice, bolstering Scotland’s already impressive conservation credentials in the process.
“I have written to the European Commissioner, calling on Europe to follow Scotland’s example and am delighted that he has agreed to reconsider the effectiveness of current European Union shark finning legislation
“It is a tremendous honour to receive this award, and I also want to pay tribute to the Shark Trust for their determined campaign on this issue.”
