bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Danny Lee

The international shark fin trade has been dealt a body blow as China’s biggest shipping and ­logistics company has pledged a total ban on their transportation.
In a letter addressed to the Hong Kong branch of the US-based wildlife conservation group WildAid obtained by the Sunday Morning Post, China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco Shipping) “pledges to implement” a “no shark fin” policy.
Kang Bingjian, a company spokesman, confirmed the letter and the policy change, but could not give a time frame for the move.
Hong Kong airlines Cathay Pacific and Dragonair impose total ban on carriage of shark fin
Cosco Shipping is the world’s fourth-largest container operator with 7.7 per cent of market share.
‘Protecting wild animals’
Earlier this month, a haul of endangered hammerhead shark fins weighing 880kg was discovered on board a vessel arriving from Panama owned by Cosco Shipping, prompting WildAid’s Alex Hofford to write to the company on July 15 urging it to “follow its industry competitors by acting legally, ethically and morally”.
Cosco’s policy change means 68 per cent of shipping firms have committed to stop carrying shark-fins. Two of the 19 biggest companies, France’s CMA CGM (third) and Taiwan’s Evergreen Line (fifth), carry fins only if they are not endangered.

Hong Kong accounts for 50 per cent of the global shark fin trade annually, according to WWF data.
Of that, 92 per cent was ­imported by ship. Government data shows imports fell by 42 per cent between 2010 and 2015 to 5,717 tonnes.
‘Threat of extinction’
Wan Min, director and president of Cosco Shipping, said he was committed to global environmental protection where “no shark-fin-related products are carried by our vessels through stricter monitoring and regulation”. “We also pledge to implement the ‘No Shark Fin’ carriage ­policies as other container lines,” he said.
Why a ban on transporting all shark fin remains the best way to revive threatened species
Hofford praised the speed at which the shipping giant ­responded to his letter. “They listened with great care to the concerns of the public, and reacted quickly to the very real threats of shark extinction we described to them, for which we applaud them to the highest degree,” he said.
Tracy Tsang Chui-chi, WWF-Hong Kong’s senior programme officer for sharks, said: “Cosco will help to significantly reduce the shark fin trade in Hong Kong and internationally.”


No to shark fin: China’s biggest shipping line Cosco pledges total ban on carrying product

Cosco joins the ranks of many global shipping lines which have struck shark fin off their transport lists. Photo: EPA

Cosco letter from the chairman Wan Min attached

Hong Kong airlines Cathay Pacific and Dragonair impose total ban on carriage of shark fin

Pressure has been growing for a ban on the shark fin trade. Photo: Sam Tsang

Protesters from WildAid Hong Kong and Hong Kong Shark Foundation dress in shark costumes protest against a restaurant which exclusively serves shark fin on the menu, at the Foo Lum Palace in North Point. 05FEB16 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

A worker arranging shark fins at Chung Ching Street in Sheung Wan. 01JUN13

Why a ban on transporting all shark fin remains the best way to revive threatened species

Activists in Hong Kong protest against the consumption of shark fin, during a demonstration earlier this year. Photo: EPA

Shark fin soup still served at 98 per cent of Hong Kong restaurants as restaurants choose money over environmentally friendly practices

Shark fins are on display at the dry seafood store at Western District. 04JAN13

Shark fins on display at a dry seafood store in Western District. Photo: SCMP Pictures

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

The announcement was made after a haul of endangered hammerhead shark fins was discovered on board their vessel, sparking outroar
