Better protecting sharks through sustainable fishing and trade

The event is part of the targeted consultation in the framework of the European Commission’s impact assessment on potential measures to better protect sharks through sustainable fishing and trade.

Its aim is to deepen the stakeholders’ dialogue to ensure a well-informed follow-up to the 2023 European citizens’ initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade”.

Event programme

09:00 – Registration of participants

09:30 – Introduction by the European Commission and a debrief on the results of the online public consultation

10:00 – Discussion on environmental impacts of potential EU measures to better protect sharks

11:30 – Coffee break

12:00 – Discussion on social and economic impacts of potential EU measures to better protect sharks

13:30 – Wrap-up session

Target audience

• non-governmental organisations
• economic operators of the fisheries value chains
• trade unions
• researchers
• public authorities

Policy scenarios to be discussed

• sustainability certification schemes for shark products
• bilateral agreements with the main international partners involved in shark fishing and consumption
• a possibility to ban import and export of shark fins (as requested by the ECI)
• promotion of a global trade ban on trade in loose shark fins
• as well as status quo