King Charles is set to give his “Royal Assent” to a new law banning the UK from importing and exporting shark fins later this year.
Every year, on average, the UK exports around 20 tons of shark fins – typically harvested from blue sharks – for processing by Spain and onward shipment to the Far East for use as the main ingredient in shark fin soup.
UK shark fin imports, on the other hand, have been a lot harder to track since a loophole in European law permits anyone entering the UK to bring 20kg/44lb of dried shark fins through Customs without question, as part of their personal import allowance.
Now, with the monarch’s signature, this is set to end.
Graham Buckingham, campaign director for Bite-Back, said:
“A UK ban on the import and export of shark fins represents a world-leading victory for shark conservation, a major blow to the shark fin industry, and a new hope to countries seeking a similar ban across Europe and the rest of the globe.”
