Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 30 November 2010.
Zac Goldsmith
Conservative, Richmond Park
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on an international ban on shark finning.
Richard Benyon
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
As the Minister with responsibility for natural environment and fisheries, I am strongly opposed to shark finning wherever it takes place, and am thoroughly committed to banning this wasteful practice worldwide by ensuring that all sharks are landed with their fins attached.
The UK has already acted on this issue domestically. We no longer issue special fishing permits which means that all UK vessels must land sharks with fins attached to the carcass, wherever they fish.
We will use our strong domestic position to influence forthcoming EU negotiations on this issue. We want to see EU Regulations amended so that fin-on landings are mandatory for all European vessels. We will also push hard for this to be the case in international fisheries managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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