Logistics giant UPS bans shark fin shipments amid pressure from conservationists
Logistics giant cites difficulty of global enforcement following pressure from activists
Global logistics giant United Parcel Service is banning shipments of shark fin amid worldwide pressure from conservationists.
The firm announced the move on Twitter, saying it had implemented the ban "following consultation with [green group] WWF".
In a separate statement, it said it had enacted the ban "due to concerns about the enforcement capabilities of the authorities and potential inaccuracy of visual inspection" under the global Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
It called the potential for misidentification an "unacceptable business condition".
The ban severely limits choice for shippers of shark fin products. At least 31 global airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa, have imposed a blanket ban on the cargo. Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair operate a sustainable shark-fin policy, which means they will not carry products from unsustainable sources.
Conservationists and protesters rallied outside UPS depots around the world last month, including in Hong Kong. Campaigners accused the delivery giant of transporting shark fin from Costa Rica to the city, which it denied.
