Ban Shark Finning in New Zealand
By Lizzy BreitkopfTarget: New Zealand Government
Goal: Ban shark finning and save the approximately 100 million sharks that are killed each year for their fins.
It is entirely legal to capture and kill a shark exclusively for its fins in New Zealand. Over 100 millions sharks are killed each year for their fins alone. The fins are then sold for their alleged medicinal properties, or to be used in shark fin soup—a worldwide delicacy. Many New Zealand fishers have been seen capturing sharks and obtaining their fins, then throwing the sharks overboard to die a slow, painful death. Urge New Zealand to end the torture of these innocent creatures and ban shark finning.
The New Zealand government has regulations to prevent over-fishing; however, there are gaps in the system. Many species, including the most frequently captured sharks, are ineffectively managed; only 9% of shark species are adequately managed. New Zealand fishing exports merit an average of $1.5 billion annually, while shark fin exports merit approximately $4.5 million. New Zealand is one of the top 20 exporters of shark fins to Hong Kong. Shark fins are valuable for their use in shark fin soup, or its supposed medicinal property. The high demand for shark fins encourages fishers to kill sharks solely for their fins, discarding the rest of the “unnecessary” or “valueless” body.
Over one third of the world has already banned shark finning. It is now time for New Zealand to ban this cruel practice. The New Zealand Shark Alliance is campaigning to protect sharks and end this inhumane procedure. The alliance is declaring that all sharks be caught sustainably, then brought to shore and killed with fins intact. This will encourage humane fishing and end the suffering of these innocent creatures. Sign this petition and urge New Zealand to ban the cruel practice of shark finning and protect defenseless sharks.
PETITION LETTER
Dear New Zealand Government,
I urge you to ban shark finning and save the approximately 100 million sharks that are killed each year for their fins. Many New Zealand fishers have been seen capturing sharks and obtaining their fins, then throwing the sharks overboard to die a slow, painful death. The fins are then sold to be used for their supposed medicinal properties, and in the delicacy shark fin soup. Over one third of the world has already banned shark finning. It is time for New Zealand to ban this cruel and inhumane practice.
The New Zealand Shark Alliance is campaigning to protect sharks and declaring that all sharks be caught sustainably, then brought to shore and killed with fins intact. This encourages humane fishing, and will end the suffering of these innocent creatures. Ban the cruel practice of shark finning and protect these defenseless sharks.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Janna Gray Via Flickr
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1 Comment
I am surprised and disappointed to read that this disgusting practise applies to New Zealand. As a New Zealander I take pride in the fact that the country has a good reputation of standing up for good environmental and humane practises. I live in Canada and often use New Zealand as an example of how things should be, so this is not good news. If we cut off peoples arms and threw them in the water there would be an outcry. What is the difference? Sharks are living creatures and deserve respect, to be left alone to live their lives in peace. This disgraceful practice must be stopped! And what is it for anyway? Soup?
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