Hong Kong must stop shark fin shipments sneaking in
Tracy Tsang says the continued presence of high-risk species in our seafood stores because of dishonest shipping practices means that shipping companies need to be extra vigilant about their cargo
At least 17 shipping companies, accounting for 80 per cent of the global market share, have imposed a ban on shark fin shipments. Their good work should not be undermined by traders who are trying to sneak their products onto ships.
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To prevent this, shipping companies must insist that their clients provide a World Customs Organisation harmonised system code when making shipment orders. The code is a six-digit number that can be used to identify suspicious cargo.
Shipping companies can also focus on staff training at specific high-risk countries/regions, such as Spain and Vietnam. Hong Kong imports the most shark fin from the former in 2016 and the latter was the largest shark fin receiver.
We are encouraged that most shippers are open to exploring solutions to these issues. After a year of discussions, WWF-Hong Kong produced the “no shark fin” carriage policy guidelines, which summarise the challenges in identifying shark fin shipments and provides tips that shipping and logistics companies can use in their daily operations.
WWF-Hong Kong invites more shipping companies to establish a “no shark fin” carriage policy. Only by working together can we secure a healthier ocean.
Tracy Tsang is senior programme officer (oceans sustainability) at WWF-Hong Kong