2 Amendments of Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN related to 2011/0364(COD)
Amendment 14 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Regulation (EC) No 1185/2003 allows Member States to issue special fishing permits allowing processing on board, whereby shark fins can be removed from the bodies. In order to ensure the correspondence between the weight of fins and bodies, a ‘'fin-to-carcass’' ratio is established, however. However, the ratio is theoretical, because it is based on the weight ratio of shark fins to whole sharks, while sharks are usually landed 'dressed' (i.e., gutted and beheaded). Therefore, shark fins and carcasses cannot be directly compared against the ratio, and monitoring must rely on species-specific conversion factors, complicating enforcement. The ratio is also higher than the average fin-to-carcass weight for some species (e.g., shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus). Furthermore, following processing operations, fins and bodies can be landed in different ports. In such casesFor these reasons, the use of the ratio becomes ineffective and gives scope for shark finning to occur. Under these circumstances, the collection of data, e.g.; species identification, populations structure, underpinning scientific advice for the establishment of fisheries management and conservation measures, is hampered.
Amendment 17 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Regional Fisheries Management Organisations are increasingly addressing the issue of shark finning and their scientific bodies are showing preference for the landing of sharks with their fins naturally attached to the body, noting that this is the best way to prevent finning, and will facilitate the collection of data needed for stock assessments.