Tell Europe: Stop Allowing Fishermen to Fin Sharks
Tell Europe: Stop Allowing Fishermen to Fin Sharks
Why this petition matters
Shark finning--a cruel process where fishermen slice off sharks' fins, then throw the fish back into the ocean to die--is technically illegal in the E.U. However, the E.U. Commission still issues permits in some cases that allow fishermen to legally fin sharks.
Shark finning is not only cruel, it seriously degrades the world's oceans. About one-fifth of shark, skate, and ray species are classified as threatened, with populations of the most vulnerable shark species declining by as much as 99 percent in recent years. Sharks' plummeting populations also negatively impact the larger marine ecosystem, threatening food security and throwing other species' populations out of whack.
Sharks' futures depend upon banning finning and closing loopholes that still allow this inhumane practice. The E.U. Commission is accepting public comments on closing the shark fin loophole until February 2011. Sign our petition telling the Commission to stop issuing permits that allow fishermen to fin sharks.
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Decision Makers
- E.U. Commission