Prohibition of finning of sharks caught in the CAMLR Convention Area

1. In 2006, CCAMLR adopted Conservation Measure 32-18 on the conservation of sharks. The measure prohibits “directed fishing on shark species in the Convention Area…” and calls for the live release of incidentally-caught sharks where possible. The measure is, however, silent on the practice of shark finning should incidental catches of sharks occur. The delegations of Brazil, Chile, European Union, and USA propose to amend CCAMLR Conservation Measure 32-18 to require that all fins of any shark that is incidentally caught and cannot be released alive remain naturally attached to the point of first landing. This is consistent with United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions adopted by consensus every year since 2007.