Inadequate Attempts to End Shark Finning

Lawmakers today do not view shark finning as a pressing issue, but there are currently three international laws that are in place to protect the conservation of sharks: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the International Plan of Action for Sharks, and the Conservation of Migratory Species (Field 2010). Nonetheless, these three laws, although effective on a whole, is not effective specifically for conserving sharks.

(Morgan 2011)

1.    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES

CITES is an agreement between governments that regulates the international trade of endangered species (Field 2010). Despite its success in conserving other animals, CITES is currently not an effective safeguard for sharks (Field 2010). Only three species are presently listed on CITES: basking, whale, and great white sharks (Field 2010). These sharks are listed under CITES’s Appendix II, which indicates that they are not yet threatened by extinction but could become extinct if trade is not closely watched (Field 2010). Although there are only three shark species listed on CITES, a global environmental organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (“IUCN”), lists two hundred sharks under its Red List, indicating that these sharks are endangered and vulnerable (Field 2010). Furthermore, even if the international trade of sharks can be effectively monitored, the amount of endangered animals could continue to increase within a country, especially if the country is poor or is without a stable government to closely monitor the trade (Field 2010). Last, since no punishment or deterrent exists for CITES, countries are going to be less likely to enforce the treaty if they are earning a great deal of money from the export or import of a certain animal (Field 2010).

2.    The International Plan of Action for Sharks, or IPOA-Sharks

The IPOA-Sharks promotes an increase in international research and recording of new data about species’ identification, populations, and trade (Field 2010). It also promotes that each state implement a “Shark Plan,” which is a plan that demands preservation by minimizing waste and discards from shark catches and encouraging the complete use of dead sharks (Field 2010). Nonetheless, IPOA-Sharks, similar to CITES, does not reward or punish countries that create or do not create the “Shark Plan” (Field 2010). It also does not benefit any country significantly, and could even hinder certain countries that are profiting greatly from shark finning (Field 2010). Because the “Shark Plan” also includes research, certain countries may not want to be involved because the money that would be spent on research and monitoring can be used in a more advantageous way to improve the country’s infrastructure and education system (Field 2010).

3.    The Conservation of Migratory Species, or CMS

CMS protects migratory species, which are endangered or run the risk of becoming endangered (Field 2010).  It presents similar issues regarding the protection of sharks that arise with both CITES and IPOA-Sharks (Field 2010). The success of CMS depends largely on research, cooperation between countries, exchange of data, and monetary support (Field 2010). Without an incentive to follow CMS, countries are less likely to protect sharks, cooperate with other states, or give accurate data (Field 2010). Additionally, CMS only lists three of the 197 shark species that IUCN or TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade-monitoring network, considers endangered (Field 2010).

(Hilton 2013)

Works Cited

CITES. (2013). What is CITES? http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/what.php CITES. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2013).

Field, M. (2010). Shark Finning: Who is the Real Predator? Animal Law. http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arussharkfinning2010.htm (Date Accessed: February 20, 2013).

Hilton, P. (2013). Shark Fin, rooftops. Paul Hilton Photography. http://www.paulhiltonphotography.com/index.php/field-notes/46 (Date Accessed: February 20, 2013). 

Morgan, S. (2011). Shark Bait: Commercial Shark Finning. Watch Documentary. http://www.watchdocumentary.tv/commercial-shark-finning/ (Date Accessed: February 20, 2013).

Traffic. (2013). About TRAFFIC. http://www.traffic.org/overview/ TRAFFIC. (Date Accessed February 20, 2013).

IUCN. (2013). What is IUCN? http://cms.iucn.org/about/ IUCN. (Date Accessed: February 20, 2013).