Fed: Govt under more pressure to ban shark finning

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
Fed: Govt under more pressure to ban shark finning

The federal government will come under more pressure to ban the practice of shark finning
in Australian waters.

Environmental groups are planning an increased campaign against the practice following
a ban in the US and a Bureau of Rural Science report due out in February next year.

Shark finning is the practice of removing the fins of sharks and then returning the
fish, usually alive, to the ocean where it can take up to two days for them to die.

Huge demand from Asia, which accounts for 98 per cent of the world shark fin markets,
and the growing price of fins is placing pressure on shark numbers.

Up to 50,000 blue sharks were killed last year before the federal government put in
place a temporary ban.

Humane Society International wildlife campaigner NICOLA BEYNON says Australia should
take the lead and ban shark finning outright.

AAP RTV sw/daw/klw/jn

KEYWORD: SHARKS (CANBERRA)

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