Six years of collaboration between the Japan Consumers' Co-op Union and WWF: Behind the Scenes of Indonesia's Certification (Part 2)
2025
Shark fin, known as "shark fin soup," is made from shark fins and has been highly valued worldwide as a luxury food ingredient. However, shark finning, the practice of taking only the fins and discarding the live body of the fish back into the ocean, is prohibited in many countries and regions due to its cruelty and the need to protect endangered sharks, and is sometimes pointed out as IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing.
For example, shark finning is prohibited in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the EU, etc. In addition, Japan has also established the "Japan National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks*1," which requires, by ministerial ordinance, that all parts of captured sharks be kept on board until they are landed.
Taiwan, which we will be looking at here, also prohibits shark finning. However, in June 2024, Taiwanese fishing boats were found to have engaged in shark finning. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the fishing activities may have taken place within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas under the jurisdiction of the WCPFC.
Similar incidents have occurred in Taiwan in the past. What are the issues behind them?
With the cooperation of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (hereinafter referred to as EAST), we would like to explain Japan's connection to this issue and what we, as a major tuna consumer country, can do to solve the shark finning problem.
On June 2024, 6, Taiwan's Fisheries Agency and the Ocean Affairs Council jointly inspected the Jin Man Fa 19 fishing vessel at Nanfang'ao Fishing Port in Taiwan and discovered 66 tons of blue shark fins, equivalent to approximately 2,000 to 3,000 sharks, on board.*6.5 It is believed that the fish bodies other than the fins were dumped alive into the sea to secure space on board.
Taiwan made it mandatory in 2011 for sharks to be unloaded at ports with their fins still attached, and violations are punishable by fines and the revocation of fishing licenses, but this incident has exposed loopholes that still exist.
The Jin Man Fa 66 has a history of violations, having been reported in 2021 for cutting off the fins of 13 tons of sharks and illegally disposing of the carcasses. The vessel operator was fined NT$500 million and had its fishing license suspended for 16 months, but three years later the violation occurred again.
The repeated illegal activities are due to a legal loophole: under current Taiwanese law, a fishing license can only be permanently revoked if a fishing violation occurs twice in one year or three times in total. This means that unless a certain number of violations are committed, it is difficult to permanently revoke a fishing license, leaving the possibility of repeating illegal activities.
This case has revealed that IUU fishing for shark fins is still taking place and that there are loopholes in regulations. Taiwanese authorities have strengthened regulations to protect sharks and announced a "zero shark finning" policy that does not permit any shark finning, but it is problematic that this has not prevented repeat offenders like Jin Man-fa No. 66.
According to a survey by EAST, nearly half of the world's shark fin trade takes place in markets such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.*3 This means that in order to fundamentally solve this problem, these countries need to work together to strengthen their countermeasures.
Although Japan is not a major player in the shark fin trade, it is an important partner in the seafood trade with Taiwan, and its role in eradicating shark finning is by no means small.
The reason lies in the tuna. Most of the tuna consumed in Japan is imported from Taiwan, and there is a possibility that some of this tuna may have been caught by fishing boats involved in illegal shark finning.
As a result, there is an increased risk that Japanese buyers will unknowingly purchase tuna that is involved in illegal activities. So how can we eliminate the risk of becoming complicit in illegal activities and eradicate shark finning? What can Japanese companies and the government do?
- Strengthening transparency
What Japanese companies can do is toTraceabilityIn order to avoid seafood products from IUU fishing practices such as shark finning and ensure that seafood products that have been sourced sustainably and responsibly are delivered to Japanese seafood consumers, it is important to understand information on how the fishing vessels involved in procurement operated in the fishing grounds and the routes they took, as well as data on catches and compliance with rules available through management authorities or the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
・MSC certification
MSC certified fisheries are required to prove with a high degree of certainty that shark finning is not practiced. During the assessment, they are required to introduce measures to prevent shark finning and provide evidence of their implementation*4. Using such certification systems is also an effective way to eliminate shark finning.
・Fishery Distribution Optimization Act: Expansion of target fish species
In order to prevent seafood caught through IUU fishing from entering the Japanese market, it is important to expand the scope of fish species covered by the Act on the Proper Domestic Distribution of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants, etc., and to thoroughly monitor the distribution of seafood involved in shark finning.
In the future, Japanese companies may be required to carefully eliminate their involvement in shark finning as part of their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their operations. It is important to take proactive measures rather than leaving the problem unresolved.
In order to close the loopholes in Taiwan's legal regulations, the Taiwanese authorities must first tighten their laws, but cooperation from Japan and other relevant countries is also essential.
As a major tuna consumer, Japan can contribute to the elimination of shark finning and IUU fishing. Japanese companies can help eliminate the problem of shark finning by procuring seafood that is not involved in illegal shark fin trade or illegal fishing, and consumers can also raise awareness of this issue and choose sustainable seafood.
Public-private cooperation between Japan and Taiwan will promote the realization of a sustainable fishing industry and the protection of marine ecosystems, marking a step towards safeguarding our fishery resources for the future.
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