Strengthen legal protections for sharks, say campaigners

Wildlife campaigners have called for better legal protections for sharks after the skipper of a Spanish-registered vessel was charged as part of an investigation into alleged shark finning in Irish waters.

Shark finning involves the removal of the fins from a shark, often while the fish is alive. The sharks are sometimes thrown back into the ocean where, unable to swim effectively, they suffocate or are eaten by other predators.

It has been described by conservationists as a barbaric practice akin to hunting rhino for their horns. Shark fins can reach €500 a kilo on the Asian market. The practice was outlawed by the EU in 2013.

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) confirmed yesterday that a Spanish-registered vessel, the Virxen da Blanca, was detained by the Irish naval service vessel LÉ William Butler Yeats following an inspection last Thursday, some 200km off Cork.

The vessel was part of a fleet of longline fishing vessels operating in an area south of Mizen.

The SFPA said alleged infringements were detected on board and the vessel was escorted into Castletownbere where it was handed over on Friday to gardaí, assisted by SFPA officers.

The alleged infringements relate to the removal of shark fins, in contravention of EU regulations, the SFPA said. Species on-board consisted of mainly blue shark and a small quantity of mako shark. The blue shark is classified as ‘near-threatened’ and the mako is classed as ‘vulnerable’.

The skipper was brought before Clonakilty District Court on Saturday where he was charged and a release bond of €335,000 was placed upon the vessel.

SFPA chairwoman Susan Steele said the operation highlights the success of interagency co-operation between the Irish naval service, the gardaí, and the SFPA.

Information compiled by officers of the SFPA and passed to the Navy resulted in the detention of this fishing vessel,” she said.

The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT), meanwhile, noted no marine fish or invertebrate enjoys legal protection in Irish waters despite many species being in danger of extinction, and improved management is required.

“Sharks and rays are top predators and, so, are crucial to the health of our seas — yet they are being hammered by poor management of our marine waters,” said IWT campaigns officer Pádraic Fogarty.

“We urgently need to see legal status in place which would pave the way for marine protected areas and the restoration of ocean biodiversity. We urge ministers Creed and Madigan to take action to avoid the complete extinction of threatened species on their watch.”

The IWT has written to Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan urging them to strengthen protections for sharks and other threatened marine species.