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New documentation shows extent of shark fin trade in Taiwan
Written by Shark Savers   
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 10:02

The Pew Environmental Group and TRAFFIC released a critical report today, complete with extensive photo evidence, of large-scale shark fin processing in Taiwan. Bravo to Pew and Traffic for undertaking this research and making it available. And thanks to Shark Savers Director Shawn Heinrichs for actually going in and snapping these pictures.

From the Pew press release:

Ten months after releasing a landmark report revealing the planet’s top 20 shark-fishing catchers, the Pew Environment Group is expressing concern about new images and video taken in Taiwan that detail the expansive and unregulated nature of shark fishing globally. The depictions show fins and body parts of biologically vulnerable shark species, such as scalloped hammerhead and oceanic whitetip, being readied for market.

“These images present a snapshot of the immense scale of shark-fishing operations and show the devastation resulting from the lack of science-based management of sharks, “said Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation at the Pew Environment Group. “Unfortunately, since there are no limits on the number of these animals that can be killed in the open ocean, this activity can continue unabated.”

Many of these fins come from pelagic shark species. According to the IUCN, over 50 percent of pelagic sharks are Threatened or Near Threatened with extinction. Photo Credit: Shawn Heinrichs for the Pew Environment Group
An assortment of shark fins. From 1985 to 1998, shark fin imports to Hong Kong and Taiwan increased by more than 214 percent and 42 percent, respectively; and between 1991 and 2000, trade in shark fins in the Chinese market grew by six percent a year. Photo Credit: Shawn Heinrichs for the Pew Environment Group

Read more and see entire gallery, here.
More pictures and an interview with Shawn Heinrichs, in this story from NPR.

One way that you can help to stop the demand that is causing the shark fin industry is to get involved in our Shark Fin Soup campaign or our Ban the Fin campaign.

 


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