Taiwan to tighten laws banning shark fin hunting

[Judi Lynn]

Taiwan to tighten laws banning shark fin hunting
By Sam Yeh | AFP – 2 hrs 52 mins ago

Taiwan, one of the world's major shark catchers, announced plans on Sunday to tighten measures against hunting the ocean predator for its fin, the island's top fisheries official said Sunday.

Taiwan fishermen are already barred from tossing sharks back into the water to die after slicing off the fin -- a delicacy in Chinese cuisine -- and are required instead to ship back the carcass.

But the measures have failed to stifle criticism from conservationists who say loopholes in the law allow finning to continue.

Under new laws to take effect early next year, it will be an offence to remove a shark's fin onboard a fishing vessel.

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