Ministry challenges shark finning campaign

Forest and Bird's anti shark finning campaign has been dismissed as not particularly relevant to New Zealand.

And the Fisheries Ministry has challenged the organisation to produce evidence it is being carried out.

Ministry chief executive Wayne McNee said today it was already illegal to take fins off live sharks in New Zealand.

"It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act carrying penalties including up to three years in prison and fines of up to $250,000," he said.

Shark finning involves cutting off the high-priced fins of sharks and dumping the rest of the body at sea.

Last week Forest and Bird said some of the country's best-known foodies had signed a pledge to help stop shark finning.

Signatories promise to not eat, make or serve shark fin soup, and either avoid restaurants which have shark fin soup on the menu.

They must also not catch sharks just for their fins and support a law change to make shark finning illegal in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council has also signed the pledge.

Forest and Bird marine advocate Kirstie Knowles said shark fins were highly valued due to increasing demand for their use in shark fin soup and traditional medicines.

Mr McNee said the ministry agreed that finning live sharks was a barbaric practice and the Government was already strongly opposed to it.

"It is illegal to fin live sharks and there are harsh penalties for anyone caught doing this."

He challenged Forest and Bird to produce evidence the practice was being carried out in New Zealand

"Forest and Bird say they have evidence that live sharks are being finned. This evidence should be provided to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or a fishery officer without delay so that it can be investigated," he said.

- NZPA