European Commission calls for evidence on a potential ban on sales and trade of loose shark fins

Today, the European Commission published a call for evidence seeking views and expertise on the environmental, social and economic consequences of a potential ban on EU sales and international trade of loose shark fins and collecting feedback on potential policy options to better protect sharks and related marine ecosystems.

The aim is to ensure the most well-informed, participatory, and transparent way of deciding on the follow-up to the 2023 European citizens’ initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade”.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, said:

Last year’s citizens’ initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade” pointed to an issue that is critically important for the health of the marine ecosystems. We committed to thoroughly consider this matter and to run an impact assessment on trade measures that could potentially halt shark finning and support shark conservation efforts. Now, we turn to the stakeholders, to receive valuable insights on the environmental, social and economic implications of such measures. I am confident that the feedback we will receive through this call for evidence will allow us to draw appropriate conclusions and take well-informed decisions stepping up EU’s shark protection.

The call for evidence is addressed to the following audience, both within and outside the EU

• organisations and individuals involved in conservation of marine resources
• stakeholders with related economic interests
• researchers
• consumer representatives

Next steps

The call will be open for a period of twelve weeks, until 16 May 2024. During this period, the European Commission will also publish an open public consultation with an online questionnaire.

The feedback received through both the call for evidence and the upcoming consultation will feed into an ongoing impact assessment process.

As part of the response to the European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade”, the European Commission is considering measures to step up shark protection. It includes the possibility to only allow commercialisation of sharks with their fins attached – be it for consumption within the EU or for international trade.

Any potential future European Commission action in this respect will be formulated considering the results of an assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts of such measures that is in progress.

Background

The overall European Commission’s response to the initiative presented in July 2023 already includes

• enhanced enforcement of existing conservation measures
• stepping up international outreach to reduce shark fin consumption and end finning practices worldwide

Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and they are vulnerable to human activities. Despite efforts to improve the conservation of sharks in recent years, many populations of sharks are in a critical situation – over one third of shark species are threatened with extinction, i.e., considered critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable. The European Commission acknowledges that shark finning is one of the main threats for the conservation of these species.

More information

Call for evidence

European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade”

Commission’s communication in response to the ECI “Stop finning – Stop the Trade”

Press release - Commission welcomes European citizens' initiative and will explore ways to address trade in shark fins (July 2023)