Worldwide Fin Bans

EMAIL Sign Up            

 

 

   

Shark products, including shark fin, can legally be sold almost anywhere in the world.  In the past little thought was given to how these fins were obtained and what impact such practices were having on future shark populations. Below is a comprehensive list of laws and regulations put in place over the years to limit the overfishing and periodic extermination of sharks (at least that is what they tell us).  As you can see there is still a lot more work to be done but attitudes are changing with more trade and possession bans being implemented every year in all corners of the globe.

If you would like to be informed when new laws / regulations are listed please enter your email above.

   

If you know of any recent laws that we haven't listed please send them to us here.

    

Pending

Australia (Listed Cities)

Ban the possession and sale of shark fins.

• Yarra Ranges, Victoria, AU [Report]

Canada (Listed Cities)

Ban the possession and sale of shark fins.

• Richmond, CAN [Report]

• Burnaby, CAN [Report]

USA (Listed Cities)

Ban the possession and sale of shark fins.

• Texas, USA [Report]

• New Jersey, USA

• Maryland, USA [Report]

• Pennsylvania, USA

• Virginia, USA

 

2013

USA (Listed Cities)

Banned the possession and sale of shark fins.

• New York State, USA [Report]

  

2012

Canada (Listed Cities)

Banned the possession and sale of shark fins.

• Langley City, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

• Maple Ridge, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

• Nanaimo, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

• North Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

• Port Moody, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

• White Rock, British Columbia, CAN [Report]

Cook Islands

Ban the possession, sale and trade of shark products [Report]

Costa Rica

Ban shark finning and the importation of shark fins [Report]

France

To create the world's largest shark sanctuary in French Polynesia [Report]

Taiwan

All sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached. [Report]

USA (Listed Cities)

Ban the possession and sale of shark fins.

• Delaware, USA [Report]

• Illinois, USA [Report]

Venezuela

All sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached. [Report]

Venezuela (Los Roques Archipelago)

Commercial shark fishing is now prohibited throughout the 2,211 square kilometers (854 square miles) of the Caribbean Sea that make up the popular Los Roques Archipelago. [Report]

   

2011

Bahamas

All commercial shark fishing, sale and trade in shark products was banned. [Report]

Canada (Listed Cities)

Banned the possession and sale of shark fins. [Report]

• Brantford, Canada

• Oakville, Canada

• Mississauga, Canada

• Pickering, Canada

• London, Canada

• Newmarket, Canada

• Toronto, Canada

Chile

Sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies. [Report]

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands

Possession, sale and trade of shark fins is prohibited (with the exception of subsistence fishing). [Report]

Guam

Possession, sale and trade of shark fins is prohibited (with the exception of subsistence fishing). [Report]

Malaysia (Sabah)

Shark Fishing and the possession and/or sale of sharks and fins are banned. [Report]

Marshall Islands

All commercial shark fishing, sale of shark products, and retention of sharks caught incidentally is prohibited. [Report]

Mexico

Shark fishing banned from May-August each year. [Report]

Tokelau

All shark fishing prohibited. [Report]

USA (National)

All sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached in federal waters (except the smooth dogfish). [Report]

USA (Listed Cities)

Possession, sale and trade of shark fins is prohibited. [Report]

• California, USA [Report]

• Oregon, USA [Report]

• Washington, USA [Report]

    

2010

Honduras

All shark fishing is banned. [Report]

Indonesia (Raja Ampat)

All shark fishing is prohibited. [Report]

Maldives

All shark fishing is prohibited in the Republic of the Maldives. [Report]

USA (Hawaii)

Possession, sale and trade of shark fins is prohibited. [Report]

 

2009

Argentina           

The practice of retaining fins and discarding carcasses is banned. [Report]

European Union

Prohibits finning in EU waters and by EU vessels worldwide (Permits issued to allow onboard removal of fins and landing in separate ports). [Report]

Guinea

Ban on shark finning in all territorial waters. [Report]

Palau

All shark fishing is prohibited. [Report]

United Kingdom

All sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached. [Report]

 

2008

Sierra Leone

Removing shark fins from the carcass at sea is banned. [Report]

Japan

The practice of retaining fins and discarding carcasses is banned. [Report]

 

2007

Colombia           

Sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies. [Report]

Mexico

Shark finning is prohibited. [Report]

 

2006

Commision for the Conservation of Antartic Marine Living Resources

All directed shark fishing is prohibited. [Report]

Costa Rica

Sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies (2003 regulation amendment). [Report]

El Salvador

Shark finning is prohibited. Fins can only be sold with the body. [Report]

French Polynesia

Banned shark fishing (except for mako sharks) and trade in all sharks (again except makos). [Report]

New Caledonia

Shark fishing prohibited in coastal areas. Some tuna longliners are permitted to remove fins at sea. [Report]

Panama

Sharks must be landed with fins attached naturally (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

Seychelles

Fins may not be removed onboard a vessel unless authorisation is granted. Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

  

2005

Cape Verde

Shark finning is prohibited throughout the EEZ. [Report]

Commonwealth (All Countries)

Shark finning is prohibited . [Report]

Egypt

Shark fishing prohibited throughout the Egyptian Red Sea territorial waters to 12 miles from the shore as is the commercial sale of sharks. [Report]

General Fisheries Commision for the Mediterranean

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

Nicaragua

Sharks must be landed with fins attached naturally (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

 

2004

Ecuador

Fishing for sharks banned but allowed if caught as bycatch. [Report]

Gambia

Ban on shark finning in all territorial waters. [Report]

Marshall islands

Ban on targeted shark fishing. [Report]

New Zealand

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

   

2003

Australia (Northern Territory)

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

Australia (South Australia)

All shark fishing is prohibited. [Report]

Costa Rica

Landing of shark fins separately from carcass allowed (2001 regulation amendment). [Report]

 

2002

Australia (Queensland)

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

Spain

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

 

2001

Congo-Brazzaville          

All shark fishing is prohibited. [Report]

Costa Rica

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited. [Report]

Australia (Tasmania)

Landing of sharks without the corresponding carcass prohibited. [Report]

  

2000

Australia (Western Australia)

Shark finning is prohibited. [Report]

Namibia

Discarding marine resources at sea (inc. sharks) is prohibited. [Report]

USA

Finning banned. [Report]

 

1999

Australia (New South Wales)

Shark finning is prohibited. [Report]

Oman

Discarding sharks at sea is prohibited. [Report]

United Arab Emirates

Finning Banned. [Report]

 

1998

Brazil    

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

South Africa

Sharks caught in SA waters must be landed, transported, sold or disposed of whole.  Fins of sharks caught in international waters may be detached from the carcass (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

  

1994

Canada                

Landing of shark fins without the corresponding carcass prohibited (Weight to fin ratio used). [Report]

 

1991

Australia (Varies by State)

Shark finning is prohibited. [Report]

 

1980

Israel

All elasmobranchs are protected in Israeli waters (all shark fishing and finning is illegal). [Report]

  

1972

Australia (Victoria)

Sharks must be landed with fins attached. [Report]