Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has given the hint to tighten up procedures in Scotland’s seas earlier this year. Now Scotland is to go a ‘significant step further’ by strengthening an absolute ban on the ‘barbaric’ practice of shark finning. In his letter to the European Commissioner Lochhead calling on the Commission to follow Scotland’s lead and strengthen the ban on shark finning throughout the European Community.
Lochhead was speaking at the European Shark Week and said that some shark populations are close to extinction, so he was delighted that Scotland is bringing an end to such a barbaric practice. He added that being an important fishing nation it is the duty of every Scottish to show that we are serious about protecting the sustainability of our seas, their stocks and the wider marine ecosystem, not just through words but with action.
Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust, said that the Shark Trust was instrumental in the adoption of the first EU finning legislation, and enthusiastically supports the steps taken by Lochhead to ensure Scottish vessels adhere to the actual intention of the ban – that no fins are removed at sea.
Scottish Ministers will make an Order under section 30(2) of the Fisheries Act 1981 to ban the removal of shark fins at sea without exception. It is told that such a ban will apply to Scottish-fishing vessels, regardless of where they fish; and any other fishing vessel within the Scottish zone, provided they are not in possession of a valid special fishing permit issued from another Member State.
