EU takes major step to protect sharks

[dipsydoodle]

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has taken a major step to protect sharks, banning the brutal practice of slicing off their fins before throwing the fish back into the sea to perish.

The European Parliament on Thursday voted with an overwhelming 566-47 margin to force all boats in EU waters and EU-registered boats around the world to land sharks with their fins attached and prove the animal had not been thrown back.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature says that about one third of sharks and rays are threatened both in EU waters and around the globe.

Uta Bellion of the Pew Environment Group says that "the parliament's vote is a major milestone in ending the wasteful practice of shark finning." EU nations are expected to back the rule soon.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/eu-takes-major-step-protect-sharks

[Ghost Dog]

1. Ah, for a moment there I thought this referred to the "1%"

(or 0.1%) and we're in the 'economy' group.

But no. This is real life and this is good news. I thought that was already EU law, though. Hmmm.

[dipsydoodle]

2. No

They're the snakes.

Most recent EU legislation concerning fish stocks ,of which I'm aware , concerned undersized catches which were being thrown back dead.

[stuntcat]

3. Thank you! Sharing.

It's an incredibly sick SHAME what's been happening to sharks.

We should F'ing care.

[AverageJoe90]

4. Yeah.

Sharks may be scary to humans, but they've got their place in nature, too. It is indeed a terrible shame, especially given how some are practically tortured like this. No animal deserves this, no matter what species might be.

[Nihil]

5. True

Sharks had survived for literally hundreds of millions of years before humans came
along to mutilate them and push them towards extinction ... and for what? So that
some degenerates can have their trendy soup ...