Posté Mardi 05 Mai 2009 par Véronique

On April 23, 2009, the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers officially adopted the European Commission’s Plan of Action for Sharks we are fighting for since 2 years.

The « Council Conclusions », agreed by all EU Fisheries Ministers, serve to encourage and guide the implementation of the Shark Plan published, on February 5, 2009 and to set related priorities.

A legislative proposal for a stricter ban on shark finning

The Council called for a specific follow-up action by the Commission, including, as a priority, a proposal to strengthen the EU ban on shark “finning.” It is a great success for Longitude 181 Nature and all the members of Shark Alliance. Strong conclusions have been a key goal of the Shark Alliance (a coalition of 70 conservation, scientific and recreational organisations formed to secure sound EU shark policies). This strong response to the Commission’s Shark Plan echoes pleas for shark conservation from the 100 000 European citizens who have signed the petition launched in September 2008.

Another good thing is that the EU Fisheries Ministers stressed the need for urgent action. This is absolutely necessary due to the time-consuming process of implementation: first, the European Commission must take European actions, then the member States must take them in their own legislation, and, only then, we could be able to see an effect on shark finning!

The Ministers also asked the Commission to lead international shark conservation initiatives through regional fisheries bodies such as the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICAT), and global wildlife treaties, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

However, we are deeply concerned by the items of the Action Plan, asking for the collection of new scientific data on sharks, because they could delay the implementation of measures which are urgently needed. No added studies are necessary: the scientific community totally agrees on the urgent necessity to protect some endangered shark species and to ban shark finning all around the world.

With the other Shark Alliance member groups across Europe we will be vigilant, in accordance with the wishes of the Council of Fisheries Ministers who invites the Commission to present as quickly as possible a more detailed timetable for the implementation, and to keep it informed annually on progresses in relation to this Action Plan.