Painted as predatory, blood-thirsty creatures in headlines and horror films, sharks are one of the world's most misrepresented creatures.
Sharks have an incredibly highly developed sense of smell and night vision that rivals cats - and a reputation among divers as being remarkably shy. Long-lived and slow to mature and breed, these ancient creatures are incredibly vulnerable to over-fishing. Over the last 10 years or so, shark fishing has increased dramatically, largely because their fins are a prized ingredient in shark fin soup.
Finning - stripping a dead shark of its fins and dumping its body - is banned in several countries, including Australia, the EU, the USA, South Africa, Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil. However finning is still legal in New Zealand waters.
New Zealand has 112 species of shark recorded in our waters. Of these 79 species are known to be caught in our fisheries, including 28 that are listed as threatened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Only one threatened shark species – the Great White Shark – is protected in New Zealand.
On average 24,000 tonnes of shark are caught each year in New Zealand (Ministry of Fisheries figures) - the equivalent of 300,000 people. Sharks in New Zealand are caught under the quota system, and mainly sold to Asia. Landing only the fin gives fishermen room to store more valuable fish.
Finning live sharks is illegal in New Zealand under the Animal Welfare Act, but if the shark is dead it is legal. Around 200 sharks were discovered mutilated on Waiheke Island in September 2011, but the Ministry of Fisheries said the practice is not illegal and they wouldn't be investigating.
Cutting off the fins of a shark and dumping the rest of the body at sea - whether they are dead or alive - is a wasteful practice contributing to the decline of shark populations worldwide. Increasing demand for the fins for shark fin soup is driving up the price of shark fins. Take a look at Auckland's Wall of Shame!
Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton is hiding behind the live finning issue. Allowing shark fins to be landed alone makes enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act near impossible - unless an observer is on all vessels - and continues to allow highly vulnerable sharks to be killed.
We all know shark finning happens, but really we all need to try and put a stop to it. Especially here in NZ. Help out:
Watch shark finning, Marlborough Sounds video | Sign the Forest and Bird Pledge here.
