19 October 2011 – This week is European Shark Week and as events take place across the EU highlighting this importance of shark species, Keith has written to the UK minister responsible for fisheries policy, Richard Benyon MP, to secure the future health of shark populations.

More than two years after ministers endorsed the EU Shark Action Plan, targeted shark fisheries continue without limits, many endangered species remain unprotected and the EU finning ban still has huge loopholes that make it possible to fin sharks without detection or punishment. In particular Keith believes that at-sea removal of shark fins hinders enforcement and must be ended, without exception.

Keith is calling for improved EU legislation to safeguard the long-term sustainability of shark populations. Such measures should include:

• a complete ban on removing shark fins at sea
• shark and ray catch limits based on scientific advice and the precautionary approach
• EU and national protections for endangered shark and ray species.

Keith will also be writing to the fisheries minister in each EU member state to raise his concerns.

Keith said “At a time when one third of European sharks are threatened with extinction, it is disappointing that EU policy introduced to protect sharks still allows for many endangered sharks to remain completely unprotected.

“Sharks play a very important role in our oceans and I will continue to lobby policy makers to ensure that EU laws support the conservations of our vulnerable shark species.”

For more information on European Shark Week visit: www.europeansharkweek.org

To sign the Make the Push! petition to protect Europe’s sharks visit: www.sharkalliancepetition.org