Quote:
| Originally Posted by sexydivebuddy rob,
can you please explain that as this cruel and unnecessary practice is being carried out world-wide and is illegal, surely the respective port / fisheries authorities must know about it as the catches have to landed and marketed somewhere.
what are the governments of the nations involved doing to enforce action against this illegal practice ? |
I guess that, as with everything, it comes down to money, self-interest and ulterior motives. Some nations are showing excellent commitment to policing their waters (Australia, in particular), others don't even seem to know about the international law - which basically means that a whole shark carcass must be landed for the equivalent number of fins on board. Of course, there are so many Asian fleet boats out in international waters still carrying out finning practices that any caught by patrol boats will be just a ... err ... drop in the ocean.
Only an international ban on trading in shark fins - a la ivory - and/or a cultural shift away from shark-fin soup will do anything to help the matter - and I don't see that happening any time soon.
And at 100 MILLION sharks being fished out of the sea per year, the breeding populations may be unsustainably depleted long before these changes are achieved - it's all so very sad.
Personally, I subscribe the the Sea Shepherd's approach to dealing with this matter - but it's a bit too aggressive and unpalatable for many people!!
cheers
Rob