ARCHIVE: Sharks

Shark Finning: Council Regulation (EC) 1185/2003

The UK was pivotal in the development of Council Regulation 1185/2003 which bans the finning of sharks at sea except by special permit. Permits to remove fins are only issued where a capacity to use the bodies of the captured sharks has been demonstrated and the need for separate processing justified. Vessels without permits may only retain and land sharks with their fins attached. Under the regulation, EU Member States are obliged to submit a comprehensive annual report to the European Commission.

Shark action plan

The EU has published an action plan for sharks. The plan aims to:

  • broaden the knowledge both on shark fisheries and on shark species and their role in the ecosystem;
  • ensure that directed fisheries for shark are sustainable and that by-catches of shark resulting from other fisheries are properly regulated;
  • encourage a coherent approach between the internal and external Community policy for sharks.

UK Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies has welcomed the adoption of this action plan.

Page last modified: 11 October 2009
Page published: 03 March 2009