Europe-wide pioneer

Shark products will be banned here in future

Cruel practice - the sharks' fins are chopped off.(Bild: Greenpeace Alex Hafford)

We don't need a trade in strictly protected animals in Austria. A shark dies for every one of these questionable products. We are now putting a stop to this. Trade will be closely monitored and imports will be restricted.

"This will make us a pioneer throughout Europe and we can at least make a contribution to saving the vulnerable fauna of our seas," said Minister for the Environment Leonore Gewessler and Green MEP Lukas Hammer. The latter tabled the remarkable motion in Parliament. It was adopted across party lines. A regulation from the Ministry of Climate Protection will come into force very soon.

Deeply sad motivation: sharks are threatened with extinction worldwide due to overfishing and hunting and are on the Red List! A particularly cruel practice: the animals' fins are chopped off while they are still alive and their twitching bodies are thrown into the sea.

The sharks sink helplessly to the bottom and die an agonizing death in the waters. "And all to satisfy the questionable delicacy cravings of so-called gourmets." Hammer: "Imports are now subject to the strictest regulations and are de facto prohibited. Shark fin soup, which is unfortunately still widespread, is therefore a thing of the past in Austria."