Finning practice onboard a fishing vessel. (Photo: Shark Alliance)

Shipowners claim rule change on sharks

SPAIN
Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 02:30 (GMT + 9)

The ban on onboard shark processing to separate bodies from fins, presented by the European Commission (EC) as a necessary measure to prevent finning has again been ignored, for the sixth time, by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The Cooperative of Shipowners of the Port of Vigo (ARVI) warns that the situation in which this decision leaves the surface longline fleet is unsustainable, so it requires the EC to urgently reverse the ban on the onboard fish processing, which reduces the competitiveness for the EU fleet.

ARVI is concerned that the surface longline fleet of Spain and Portugal, the only European fleets catching sharks, will be forced to remain alone in a rule that causes serious economic harm and that, according to the specific recommendations of many scientists, has alternatives.

At the meeting of the ICCAT meeting in Genoa, the Spanish industry, represented by CEPESCA, had requested that Europe defends the fact that the requirement to unload the fins attached to the bodies must be imposed throughout the scope of regulation.

ARVI insists that this action is unnecessary, as Europe has adequate funds to ensure no waste occurs.

It argues that in addition to the Electronic Fisheries Journal, through which all the activity is reported every 24 hours, setting a ratio between bodies and fins on the landing would be enough to ensure that there has been no discard of any part of the fish.

However, it explains that to meet the rules and avoid serious effects on competitiveness, and given the intransigence of the Commission to change the rule, the Spanish industry would have accepted that these conditions were imposed on all competitors.

ARVI regrets the lack of political clout of the Commission to defend its position in the international community, since the arguments of some Asian countries, especially Japan, were enough so the EU proposal was not even voted upon.

The Spanish surface longline vessel owners defend the existence of an international regulation that prevents finning, as the vessels of other States that may be doing so besides causing serious environmental damage, compete in the markets on better terms.

The Spanish owners agree about the scientific recommendation for body/fin ratio requiring boats to land proportionate amounts of both products at port according to the species and size of the specimens. This way it could ensure that the unloaded body weight matches some scientific criteria on a given fin weight.

The onboard fish processing is very important to the Spanish surface longline fleet, which is largely composed of freezer vessels. Owners say the landing of bodies with their fins causes serious security risks and prevents companies from planning and organizing trade because bodies and fins are aimed at different markets.

The Cooperative has asked the Government of Spain to use scientific criteria to require the Commission the abolition of the measure which requires the landing of shark bodies and fins and defends effective measures to definitively eradicate shark finning around the world at international organizations. 

Related article:

- Fishing sector 'outraged' at ICCAT’s decisions

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