NDP MP Fin Donnelly introduces legislation to prohibit shark fin imports
1 of 1 2 of 1
B.C. MP Fin Donnelly today (December 8) introduced legislation in Ottawa to ban the importing of shark fins.
Donnelly, the NDP’s oceans critic, said Canada has an opportunity to take a lead role in international efforts to protect species threatened by the practice of shark finning.
“With millions of sharks being killed each year just for their fins, this international marine conservation crisis requires immediate action,” Donnelly said in a statement.
“The often illegal targeting of sharks for their fins is causing a rapid decline in shark populations and hurting marine ecosystems around the world,” he said.
Donnelly said a petition started in late November already has 3,000 signatures from Canadians who support a ban on shark fin imports.
Comments
2 Comments
Arthur Vandelay
Dec 8, 2011 at 12:04pm
Is this guy's name kismet or coincidence?
Catherine (Ku) Leung
Dec 9, 2011 at 3:42pm
Ban on import of shark fin products are not necessary.
-----------------
Three shark species are listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Whale shark, the Great White Shark and the Basking Shark. As a party to CITES, Canada takes seriously obligation to prevent the import of products from listed species. Canadian policies and practices are amongst the best in the world, the main shark fishery in Canada is for spiny dogfish on the West Coast which has recently become the first shark fishery in the world to be certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Canada’s shark fisheries are sustainable, based on sound scientific advice the practice of shark finning has been prohibited since 1994.
------
The above is a standard answer from a MP in GTA, and I believe him.