Shark finning reports ignored in Western Central Pacific Ocean
A total of 24 incidents of shark finning were identified, all of which took place on MSC certified vessels, 19 of them during MSC trips and sets classified as MSC eligible.
Anew Shark Guardian investigation has revealed that fishery observer reports of shark finning and other malpractices on MSC certified vessels in the Western Central Pacific Ocean have been routinely ignored.
The latest ‘Slipping Through the Net: Reported but Ignored’ investigation was based on a review of fishery observer data sets for the years 2017-2021 obtained from the Fijian National Observers Programme (FJOB), the Solomon Islands National Observers programme (SBOB) and the PNA Observer Agency (POA), as well as subsequent incountry investigations conducted by Shark Guardian researchers.
A total of 24 incidents of shark finning were identified, all of which took place on MSC certified vessels, 19 of them during MSC trips and sets classified as MSC eligible.
Co-Founder of Shark Guardian
Brendon Sing, Co-Founder of Shark Guardian said, “This is a worrying level of shark finning for a supposedly sustainable fishery, and for the reports to be ignored like this demonstrates that these fisheries and the MSC are out of control.”
Our new report ‘Slipping Through the Net: Reported but Ignored’ exposes how fisheries management has been compromised in several key areas, including:
Assessments of the impacts of fisheries on non-target species.
The monitoring of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Violations of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission’s (WCPFC’s) Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs).
Violations of the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC’s) own standards by MSC certified vessels, often during sets classified as MSC-eligible, including involvement in shark finning.
This last point alone, should make sets ineligible for certification to the MSC standard for sustainable fisheries.
Based on the findings of our investigation, the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) – the independent auditors monitoring the MSC standard – have failed to identify numerous issues raised by observers.
Alex Hofford, Shark Guardian’s Marine Wildlife Campaigner said “Our review is based on a small number of data sets that were drawn from a narrow selection of observer reports on just a handful of trips. The actual scale of violations is likely to be much greater, considering the high number of violations found in such a small sample.”
Shark Guardian