Brazilian authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal shark finning, seizing a massive consignment of 28.7 metric tonnes of illegally obtained shark fins, NBS news reports.
This seizure is being hailed as the world's largest confiscation of its kind at the source. Environmental protection agency Ibama estimates that this consignment represents the death of approximately 10,000 sharks of two different species, the blue shark and the shortfin mako shark, which entered Brazil’s national list of endangered species last month. The seized shark fins were destined for export to Asia, where they are in high demand.
“These apprehensions on an integrated basis represent the largest recorded in the world, especially considering it is a seizure at the source where the sharks are caught,” Ibama said in a statement.
Ibama's operation focused on two different companies, but investigations into other potential culprits are still ongoing. The agency's head of environmental protection, Jair Schmitt, emphasized that this illegal practice is recurrent in Brazil. Similar instances have been discovered in the past, such as the seizure of seven or eight metric tons of shark fins in Pará state.
Shark finning involves the cruel practice of slicing off the fins of live sharks and discarding the rest of the animal back into the sea. This method not only causes immense suffering to the sharks but also disrupts the marine ecosystem. The recent confiscation highlights the return of Ibama to protecting the marine environment.
“This action is very emblematic because it symbolizes the return of Ibama to the protection of the marine environment and especially the protection of the illegal fish trade in the country,” Schmitt added.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration has prioritized the preservation of Brazil's fauna and flora after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, weakened environmental agencies and oversight powers. The significance of this action lies in its symbolism as a step towards reestablishing environmental protection in Brazil.
One of the exporting companies responsible for a majority of the seized fins is located in the southern state of Santa Catarina, accounting for 27.6 metric tons. The remaining fins were confiscated at São Paulo International Airport from the second company involved. The specific names of the companies and individuals implicated in the illegal trade were not disclosed by Ibama.
Environmental organizations, such as Sea Shepherd Brazil, have seized this opportunity to call on the Brazilian government to ban the shark fin trade and halt shark meat imports into the country. They argue that such measures are crucial to protecting these vulnerable species.
Although shark fishing is illegal in Brazil, the vessels involved in this illegal trade were exploiting permits meant for catching other fish species. In addition to the staggering number of sharks killed, the indiscriminate fishing methods used by these boats have resulted in the death of thousands of seabirds, including those belonging to endangered species.
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