Shark 'Finning' Prohibited In Common Fishing Zone

August 27, 2009

Release from: FIS News Service

The Joint Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CTMFM) has established a series of measures intended to ensure the conservation and rational exploitation of cartilaginous fish like the short-tailed river stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura), the shark and chimera within the Common Fisheries Zone (CFZ) shared by Argentina and Uruguay.

According to Resolution 5/2009, the Commission prohibits the practice known as ‘finning,’ which consists of removing the fin from a shark, and subsequently discarding the fish's body.

Similarly the use of ‘boat hooks' or similar hooks in the selection and/or onboard discard of these species is also prohibited.

The CTMFM also establishes the obligatory nature of returning shark specimens larger than 160 centimeters to sea, which are banned from commercial fishing.

In addition, it resolved to intensify control and surveillance mechanisms that promote the full compliance of the proposed measures.

According to preliminary data furnished by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (SAGP&A), 13,081.5 tonnes of short-tailed river stingray were landed in Argentine ports between 1 January and 20 August 2009.

This volume represents a fall of 26.8 per cent compared to the 17,869.5 tonnes landed between the first day of 2008 and 31 July of that year.

Meanwhile, 318.8 tonnes of shark were landed through 20 August, while 375 tonnes were landed between the first day of 2008 and 31 July 2008.