Government introduces tough new law banning international shark fin trade

• Import and export of detached shark fins banned to promote shark conservation
• Ban will extend to imported & exported products containing shark fins including tinned shark fin soup
• Legislation represents another important step in the UK’s journey to delivering better shark conservation globally

The Shark Fins Act passed into law today (29 June), marking a major step in cementing the UK as a global leader in shark conservation.

The Act will ban the import and export of detached shark fins, including all products containing shark fins such as tinned shark fin soup.

Shark finning is the cruel and wasteful practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and discarding the finless body back in the water. The practice has been banned in the UK since 2003 through the Shark Finning Regulation, and since 2009 a ‘Fins Naturally Attached’ policy has been enforced to further combat illegal finning of sharks in UK waters and by UK vessels worldwide.

This Act goes further to build on these existing protections by preventing the trade of detached shark fins and related products obtained using this method.

Many species of shark now face significant population pressures. Out of over 500 species of shark, 143 are listed as ‘Under Threat’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with different species ranging from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Critically Endangered’.

Demand for shark fin products and subsequent overfishing is a significant driver for these pressures. The Act will help protect sharks and reduce the unsustainable overfishing of sharks.

The presence and variety of sharks in marine areas act as a key indicator for ocean health while the animals also play a vital role in marine ecosystems by helping to maintain healthy levels of fish below them in the food chain.

The Act follows our Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge, and our call for evidence in which most respondents emphasised their strong opposition to shark finning.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Benyon said:

“Shark finning is an inexcusably cruel practice that has led to the suffering and death of countless sharks. The practice is rightly banned in UK waters, but trade has continued, with serious implications for the future of these magnificent creatures.

“That is why it is so important we ban the import and export of detached shark fins and I welcome the Shark Fins Act as an important step in our commitment to champion the conservation and sustainable management of sharks wherever they are fished.”

Steve Backshall MBE said:

“Today is a huge win for shark conservation and a real cause for celebration. Sharks are beautiful and incredibly complex animals, but sadly frequently misunderstood.

“With this tough ban on the import and export of shark fins now law, we are not only supporting the survival of these ancient creature but also sending a clear message the UK has zero tolerance for this wasteful and destructive trade.”

Ali Hood, Director of Conservation at the Shark Trust, said:

"It's fantastic news! The UK has long taken a stand against shark finning. Seeing fins naturally attached enshrined into UK law reinforces this stance. And the addition of a ban on the import and export of detached shark fins eases customs checks and enables the UK to hold other countries to the same standard to which we hold ourselves. Our thanks to Christina Rees MP, Baroness Whitchurch, and the many organisations and individuals who have joined this cause over the years."

Government will continue to press for stronger international controls within the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Convention on Migratory Species and the associated Sharks Memorandum of Understanding.

This new legislation is part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading standards for animal welfare. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021: we have brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, brought forward a ban on glue traps, and introduced tougher penalties for hare coursing. We have also launched a new consultation to deliver on our commitment to ban the keeping of primates as pets, to ensure that all primates in England are kept to zoo-level standards.

The UK is a global leader in international conservation. We are also supporting Bills currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies and banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptable low animal welfare activities abroad.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Action we’ve already delivered on animal welfare since 2010 includes:

• Recognised animal sentience in law and introduced accountability to Parliament for how well all government policy decisions pay due regard to the welfare needs of animals.

 Ramped up enforcement with:

• Increased maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
• New financial penalty notice powers in addition to other existing penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
• New protections for service animals with ‘Finn’s Law’.

Raised farm animal welfare:

• Launched the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway with new annual vet visits and grants.
• Implemented a revised welfare at slaughter regime and introduced CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
• Banned traditional battery cages for laying hens, permitted beak trimming via only infra-red technology. 
• Raised standards for meat chickens. 

Significantly enhanced companion animal welfare:

• Revamped the local authority licensing regime for commercial pet services including selling, dog breeding, boarding, animal displays.
• Banned the third party puppy and kitten sales with Lucy’s Law.
• Made microchipping compulsory for cats and dogs.
• Introduced offences for horse fly-grazing and abandonment
• Introduced new community order powers to address dog issues

Provided valuable new protections for wild animals:

• Banned wild animals in travelling circuses.
• Passed the Ivory Act which came into force last year, including one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world, and extended it to five further species.
• Gave the police additional powers to tackle hare coursing.
• Banning glue traps.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning trade in detached shark fins.
• Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptably low animal welfare activities abroad.