Kerala High Court upholds ban on export of shark fins of all species

HSI/India urges people to report illegal shark finning or trade-related activities at 8899117773

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has upheld the Central Government’s notification that banned the export of shark fins of all species.

In the year 2001, India joined other nations in conserving sharks (sharks, rays and skates.) by including ten species in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. India is also a signatory party to the recent CITES Appendix II listing of 5 species of sharks (of which 4 species are commonly found in Indian waters) and 2 species of manta rays, thereby initiating regulation in fin and gill plate trade in these species.

Humane Society International/India and People for Animals succeeded in convincing the Government to make a legislative change in 2015, which banned the export of all shark fins, irrespective of the species.

Petitioners sought to have the ban lifted and appealed to the Kerala High Court, claiming the ban affected “their fundamental right to trade”. However, the Honourable High Court of Kerala upheld the 2015 Central Government’s notification stating that the “environmental protection, the preservation of flora and fauna, and the maintenance of ecological balance demand zero-tolerance” and applies to the mass killing of sharks.

Applauding the decision, Mr. N.G Jayasimha, managing director, Humane Society International/India said, “We are glad that the Honourable High Court has upheld the ban. Sharks are not a part of our diets and in most cases, they are hunted for fins that are then exported to other Asian and Southeast Asian countries.”

“Sharks are essential to the survival and maintenance of healthy marine ecosystems. By mass murdering sharks to obtain their fins, traders are disrupting this balance and threatening the collapse of an entire ecosystem. Currently, 5 species of sharks and 2 of manta rays are protected by law. These species fall prey to the trade because it is often difficult to identify the species from the fins alone,” Mr. Jayasimha, added.

To report any illegal activities related to sharks like hunting or Sharkfin trade, please call the Humane Society International/India helpline number at 8899117773.

-Vidhi Malla