In a great move to help preserve sharks, Canada has banned the import and export of shark fins. In the process, it has also become the first G20 nation to do so. The bill has been passed by the parliament and has also received Royal Assent.
Shark fins have long been considered a delicacy in Asian nations and are regularly served in parties. They are also known to be one of the most expensive food items in the world.
However, this practice has come under immense scrutiny in recent years. The process of shark finning is inhumane and destructive, causing a massive decline to the number of these predators across the world. In this practice, the fins are hacked from sharks when they are alive and the rest of the fish is discarded into the waters.
Canada has been the largest importer of shark fins out of the continent of Asia. It imports the fins from China, Hong Kong, the United States of America, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the year 2018, it imported a whopping 148,000 kgs of shark fins. Further, the United Nations reports that over 70 million sharks are killed for their fins annually across the world.
Canada has, however, since 1994, banned the process of finning in its domestic waters.
While many conservationists have appreciated this move, they also believe that a lot more needs to be done to protect this species. They believe that overfishing rather than just shark finning has contributed to the decline of the shark population.
Nevertheless, this move is a welcome one. What do you think?
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