• "Shark finning" refers to the finning of sharks. Through this practice, the animals are stripped of their fins.
• Fins hold great value in Asian markets, where they are the main ingredient of a soup.
• At a global level, the country responsible for the highest number of sharks, rays and chimaeras caught each year is Indonesia, with a grim record of 110,000 tonnes. In second place, however, is Spain with 78,000 tonnes.
• Within the European Union, finning is prohibited by law, yet catches have nonetheless increased over the years.
• The European citizens' initiative Stop finning – stop the trade calls on the EU to ban the import, export and transit of shark fins within its borders.

3,500 tonnes of shark fins are exported from the European Union to Asia every year, a problem that is putting one of the seas' most iconic species in serious jeopardy. In the practice of "finning" or "shark finning", also known as "spinnamento", the animals are stripped of their fins, the most prized part. Their bodies, considered worthless, are thrown back into the sea mutilated, while the animals are still conscious. Unable to swim any longer, they end up sinking to the seabed, dying from blood loss or asphyxiation.

Why shark fins are consumed

Shark fins are the main ingredient of an expensive soup eaten primarily in China and Vietnam. It was once considered a prestigious dish and consumed only by the wealthiest classes, but following the economic boom it has spread increasingly to the middle class as well. This has led to an exponential rise in demand for fins and, consequently, in the number of sharks killed. It is no coincidence that one third of the shark and ray population faces extinction, and some species have seen a decline in their numbers of 70–90 per cent, with one third of them now at risk of extinction.

Although it is a traditional food in certain Asian countries, the market on which it is based is widespread throughout the world, starting with Europe itself.

Europe's responsibility in shark finning

Because of shark finning, between 70 and 100 million sharks die every year. At a global level, the country responsible for the highest number of sharks, rays and chimaeras caught each year is Indonesia, with a grim record of 110,000 tonnes. In second place is Spain with 78,000 tonnes, followed by India with 67,000 tonnes. But looking at the report on this market drawn up by the NGO Traffic, which has long been engaged in monitoring the trade in animals and plants, it becomes clear that three European countries feature among the top 15 nations in the world for shark catches: in addition to Spain, Portugal and France also appear on the list.

A European citizens' initiative to stop shark finning

Within the European Union, finning is prohibited by law, thanks to a 2013 directive establishing that sharks caught must be brought to shore whole. Nevertheless, catches have risen exponentially in recent years. Take the case of the blue shark: in 2016, 53,000 tonnes were caught, a figure actually higher than that recorded in 2013.

For this reason, the European citizens' initiative (ECI) Stop finning – stop the trade was launched to call on the EU to ban the import, export and transit of shark fins within its borders. In 2016 alone, Spanish fleets declared 29,000 tonnes of blue shark, approximately 1 million animals. This alone translates into a market of 3,500 tonnes of fins with a total value of around 52 million euros per year, the ECI organisers report. And these are only the official figures.

The signature collection officially closes on 31 January and is seeking to gather at least one million votes. At the time of writing, signatures stand at more than 540,000 across Europe and 47,000 in Italy. Seven countries (France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Malta) have already reached the minimum threshold required, and in Italy only seven thousand votes are still needed.

To sign and join the initiative, simply visit the official website and fill in the required fields. A concrete way to help these enigmatic animals avoid extinction.