Please show your support by signing this Petition - Save our Sharks

 

If you live in the UK please return the petition below to: The Shark Trust, Unit 4 Creykes Court, The Millfields, Plymouth PL1 3JB, UK Contact: 01752 672020 / www.sharktrust.org

If you live outside the UK please return this petition to Irene Kingma, Hobbemakade 118-hs, 1071 XW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

 

European Shark Week 15-23 October 2011

Dear Minister:

The EU has unfinished business for sharks. I urge you to ensure fulfilment of the commitments of the
EU Shark Action Plan, especially strengthening the ban on shark finning – the wasteful practice of
slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea.

More than two years after EU ministers endorsed the Action Plan, targeted shark fisheries continue
without limits, many endangered species remain unprotected, and the EU finning ban still has huge
loopholes that make it possible to fin sharks without detection or punishment. In particular, at-sea
removal of shark fins hinders enforcement and must be ended, without exception.

To safeguard these vulnerable animals, we need:
• A complete ban on removing shark fins at sea
• Shark and ray catch limits based on scientific advice and the precautionary approach
• EU and national protections for endangered shark and ray species.

Sharks play essential roles as top predators. EU policies affect sharks all over the world.
Your leadership is needed to protect sharks from overexploitation and finning.

Thank you,

Full name                             Date                          Signature                                Country of Residence