Ban aims to end NZ shark fin slaughter - article

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A long-awaited proposal to ban shark-finning in New Zealand waters has won the backing of environmentalists.
The Government yesterday released a proposal to outlaw the practice of killing a shark, slicing off their fins and throwing the carcass back to sea. The ban would be phased in over two years, beginning next October.
Finning a live shark is already illegal under animal welfare laws. Fisherman dump the carcass because it takes up valuable storage space on a vessel.
East Asian countries prize fins for the shark fin soup delicacy and traditional medicine, and they can fetch up to $1200 each. New Zealand is among the world's top 20 exporters of fins to China and Singapore, with the trade worth about $5 million a year.
Conservationists have been lobbying the Government for five years for a ban, arguing the country is lagging behind almost 100 others who have made the practice illegal.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith described the practice as "abhorrent".
"Sharks may not be as cuddly as kiwi or as cute as dolphins but they are an important part of New Zealand's marine biodiversity."
He launched the Draft National Plan of Action at Wellington's Island Bay Marine Education centre with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
Mr Guy said there has been a "major" drop - of up to 90 per cent - in the shark fin trade from New Zealand in 2013. The national carrier Air New Zealand and some shipping companies have also recently refused to freight fins.
There are two proposals in the draft plan. A 'shark trunk to fins ratio' policy allows fisherman to process the carcass at sea, but must ensure fins and bodies are landed in proper proportions.
The European Union moved away from this strategy in June, in favour of a 'fins naturally attached' policy - which is also recommended by the United Nations.
Greenpeace favours the fins- attached approach. Senior Oceans Campaigner Karli Thomas said it was "international best practice."
"That effectively means requiring sharks to be landed whole . . . the problem with [trunk to fins ratio] is it is very difficult to enforce, it leaves a number of loopholes open for messing the system."
She said it was "encouraging" the Government was finally taking the issue seriously but wanted the change in place before 2016.Green Party MP Gareth Hughes, a vocal opponent, said he was "delighted" by the plan. He also supports fins naturally attached.
"Continuing shark finning was always a big risk to our international brand," he said.
WWF Marine Advocate Milena Palka said the ban was "a long time coming".

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She agreed it could be "sped up a little".
Labour's fisheries spokesman Damien O'Connor said "New Zealand has finally caught up with many of the other world's nations in banning shark finning."
Public submissions on the proposals close on December 8.