European industry body Europêche made an appearance at the European Parliament (EP) to participate in the public hearing on the Stop Finning, Stop The Trade initiative, making it clear that the European Union fleet has unanimously rejected the practice of finning.
Europêche general director Daniel Voces took the opportunity to report on European fishing for these species and to clarify concepts.
He pointed out in his presentation that finning is a practice that the EU fleet has never employed, and there has never been an instance of such an offence being committed or any sanction being applied.
‘We value, trade and eat shark meat, a species from which everything is used. In fact, in all Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), finning is strictly prohibited. This is also the mandate given by the UN to all countries,’ he said.
Shark fisheries are carefully regulated by different countries in their jurisdictional waters and by the RFMOs in all oceans. In addition, Daniel Voces explained that there are numerous legally binding international instruments that regulate fishing from a biological, environmental and control point of view.
Since 2013 all EU vessels must comply with the policy of fins remaining attached to each shark landed. Europêche’s position is that this requirements should be a requirement worldwide.
The Port State Measures Agreement requires verification and inspection of fishing vessels entering ports to ensure they comply with the Law, and he pointed out that once shark have been landed, national authorities have an obligations to issue a catch certificate that will accompany the body of the shark and its fins until the moment they reach the consumer.
‘In this sense, it can be said that the EU has the most advanced policy to prosecute and combat illegal fishing (IUU) of sharks,’ he said, and explained that most of the shark catches of the European fleet in all oceans are transported to Vigo, where the fin is finally separated from the body. The meat is sold in many EU countries, in South America, Russia and Ukraine (before the invasion). The fins are shipped to Asian countries and the United States.
According to the FAO, these more restrictive market regulations in the different states have led to a reduction in the trade in shark fins, with sales of shortfin mako fins having decreased by 50% since 2003.
He explained that shark fishing would not be profitable without the sale of the bodies. The income obtained by the fishermen for their commercialization represents around 60% of the total, the remaining 40% comes from the sale of the fins. It must be taken into account that the fins only account for 5% of the total weight of the shark.
According to Europêche, the measures proposed by this initiative would amount to prohibiting a perfectly legal and sustainable economic activity in Europe, with serious consequences for our economies (especially for Galicia) and consumers both in Europe and Asia.
‘It would force us to transfer the processing and trade of our catches to non-EU countries, and Asian demand would have to be met with fins from other fleets that operate with lower standards,’ he said, commenting that such a ban is not justified and is not an option – and advocated promoting science, management, control, application, traceability and co-operation between countries and administrations, in addition to better implementing policies because ‘there is always room for improvement.’
