As I understand the U.S. federal regulations, as well as most of the shark
fin resolutions pushed by the U.S. Government in various forums such as
ICCAT, IATTC, WCPFC, the basic requirement is that there be a shark body
landed that will account for the shark fins which are landed.
To say it another way, the intention of the regulations and resolutions is
to end the practice where the shark fins are kept and the rest of the shark
is discarded. There are legitimate reasons to cut the shark fins off under
these regulations --- the one you have mentioned, i.e., more efficient
storage of the shark meat, and also, if the sharks are caught in legal sized
drift gill nets, often the shark becomes so entangled that it is necessary
to cut the fins off in order to get the shark out of the net. Pete
PETER H. FLOURNOY
INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICES OF SAN DIEGO
740 NORTH HARBOR DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-5806
phf@international-law-offices.com
phf@pacbell.net
TEL: 619.232.0954
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CELL: 619-203-5349
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