Brussels, 19 March ( EFE).-the European Union supported today to tighten legislation to eradicate definitively the practice known as “finning” fins of sharks, that although it has been prohibited since 2003, is difficult to control.
The Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EU supported the proposal of the European Commission to put an end to the exceptions that apply at present, and that benefit above all Spanish and Portuguese vessels.
Final approval, will require the approval of the European Parliament.
Practice is amputation of the shark fins and then throw the body of the animal still alive sea.
In addition, pets allowed exceptions under certain conditions, so that they can cut the fins on board and disembark them and the rest of the body in different ports.
This makes it difficult for inspectors the ability to determine if the regulations has been infringed.
EU aims to end “completely” the curtailment both in Community waters for European vessels fishing in any fishery in the world.
The ban will be that countries already not to issue special fishing permits, so now all ships will be forced to disembark the sharks fins still attached to the body.
The Commission explained when he presented the proposal that freezers Spanish and Portuguese vessels will be most affected by the new rules, because these countries issued permits transformation aboard most.
To facilitate their storage and handling aboard ships, fishermen can cut a part of every fin and bend it into the body of the animal.
In recent years, some populations of sharks have been seriously endangered because of the huge increase in demand for its products, especially of fins, used mainly for cooking a Chinese recipe: shark fin soup. EFE
