Cathay Pacific's ban on non-sustainable shark fin cargo delayed

Cathay Pacific's policy banning cargoes of non-sustainable shark fin will not come into effect until next year, about 18 months after it was announced, marine experts drawing up the guidelines say.

The experts defended the carrier's drawn-out approach, saying Cathay had "grasped a serious nettle" and that its stance would be more effective for marine conservation in the long term.

Cathay said on September 4 last year it would no longer carry shark fin from unsustainable sources, saying it expected to implement the policy within "approximately three months".

Its lead has since been followed by other airlines including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Emirates, which announced immediate blanket bans.

Cathay, by contrast, still carries shark fin, although it has stopped signing new contracts and volumes have plummeted from 300 tonnes a year to around six tonnes.

The hold-up has baffled some environmentalists who are wary of the airline's intentions and say they cannot understand why it does not impose an immediate ban until it defines sustainability.

But the three global experts working with Cathay - Professor Colin Simpfendorfer, Dr Nick Dulvy and Glenn Sant - insist the airline's approach will help generate demand for sustainable shark fin.