It seems everyone is ganging up on the sharks in Western Australia, firstly the State Government has announced a catch and kill policy and now today in the Sunday Times there is talk of creating a sustainable shark fin export policy for the Asian market.

I have written at length about the issues surrounding the governments catch and kill policy (read it here), but this talk of ‘sustainable’ shark finning has caught a number of community by surprise (read the article here). From what I read into the article WA have been exporting shark fin for some time. These fins have been taken from sharks that have been caught legally with the shark meat being used for domestic consumption.

On first glance most would think oh that sort of makes sense no point wasting the fin when we are catching them anyway. I was a bit more shocked that this was going on, thinking that we lived in Little House on the Prairie land and we could not do anything to support such a trade. In fact WA Fisheries currently have a delegation in China now speaking with officials over there that will allow a more responsible approach to our exporting.

Now I have not gone and changed sides and support this but lets have a look closer. Currently sharks such as the gummy shark and whiskery shark are caught using either long lines or gill nets off the WA coast. These go into our fish and chip shops and sold off as flake. In the markets the price is about $2 – $6 per kilo. At the same time fins are taken from the sharks and exported overseas for a price of about $10 – $20 per kilo. So really not a bad earner for the fishermen on a by catch product. The full shark is used and unlike less reputable practices not tossed back into the sea still alive just finless dooming the to death by drowning.

What WA Fisheries are proposing is a certification rating on WA shark fin stating that this comes from sustainable fishing practices; still not a bad concept. This could raise the price of ‘green certified’ shark fin to $100 per kilo. All for the core ingredient of soup that can sell for up to $1000 per bowl.

So what is the problem?

In Sept 2012 the WA Government announced it has gained approval from the Federal Government for gillnet fishery off the South West coast (read the press release here). Now that slipped through the net. Could the too be linked? Quite possible, the press release does mention lots of research has been done and that we need the extended fisheries and the ability to use gill nets. These gill nets are not a nice bit of kit at all not only will they catch the target species but by catch such as dolphins and seals.

So last month we have approval given for a extended fishing zone and gill netting and now a senior WA fisheries official is off to China to flog off ‘green certified” shark fin. For me I am always a bit suss when a press release announcing research but cannot reference any. The only reference was based on the application for approval (HERE)

For me though I actually see the issue as being far larger than just us selling off a couple of kilo of by catch. What we are doing is legitimising not just shark fin soup as a delicacy but the actual global shark fin trade. Our federal government has gone on the record saying it is against shark finning and has lobbied other nations to stop it and now we are sanctioning it ourselves. Yes we are doing it as a by product but the image is still there.

What concerns me the most is what will be be first and foremost in the shark fishers mind going out to catch the shark for domestic use or the fins. Are we going to see a quota raise as well or extra licenses given for commercial fishing?

Then on the other side of the equation once the ‘green certification, comes in and the price dramatically rises how can we be sure the Asian markets will accept the cost? This could play into the hands of the black market fishing trade that is already alive and well (HERE, ACC HERE).

What should be done?

A clear message is being sent by the WA Government that it does not like sharks, that is quite obvious. What is of greater concern is that it does not like science, debate on a subject or even the environment. Globally governments at all levels are banning shark finning and even shark fin soup from being sold. But the WA State Government is giving this business a legitimate face and whilst our fishing practices maybe sound the knock on effect is not.

I would urge you all to take some time and research this more, get involved by sending letters to you local MP. We as a community should be supporting the trade of shark fin in any sense. The message we should be sending to Asia is WA will no longer be sending shark fins of any type.

We need to be clear and concise in our messages of disapproval. Saying you do not like something because, well just because is not a valid argument that won’t change decisions that have economic or political ramifications. There is research widely available and this should and needs to be tapped into, used and sourced. Lastly do not fall into the sensationalist trap that the media falls into, build an argument and point based on fact and not from emotion.