Shark Guardian launched a government petition in early 2020 with the purpose to ban the shark fin trade in the United Kingdom. By September 2020 our campaign, Finspire Change UK, managed to collect over 115,000 signatures for the petition to be moved up to UK Parliament. Since then the motion to ban the shark fin trade was assessed by a 'Call for Evidence by the UK Government in May 2021. In July 2022 British Labour MP Christina Rees introduced her Private Member's Bill into the British parliament to ban the import and export of shark fins into the United Kingdom.
The Shark Fins Bill completed its passage through both Houses of Westminster on 16th June 2023 – with the Third Reading in the House of Lords led by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, and supported unanimously by Peers from all sides. The Shark Fins Bill will now enshrine Fins Naturally Attached into UK law. And whilst not an all-out ban on shark fin consumption and trade, the Bill prohibits the import and export of detached shark fins, whether loose or in products – creating a more challenging environment for would be traders and simplifying enforcement.
Christina Rees MP introduced the Bill to The House of Commons in 2022 as a Private Members Bill (See article and video here) which successfully garnered cross-party support. The Bill then passed to ‘the other House’ in January 2023, where Baroness Jones of Whitchurch led the debate in the Lords.
Download the Shark Fin Bill below:
“I’m pleased to have played a small part in bringing an end to this cruel and wasteful practice,” said Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, “but the real thanks should go to the shark and marine conservation charities who did so much to highlight the need for a ban.”
Christina Rees, MP for Neath and Port Talbot added,
“It has been a great privilege to take this hugely important Bill through the House of Commons, and I am delighted to see it reach its Third Reading in the House of Lords. Shark finning is an abhorrent and cruel practice, which is not only torturous for the animal but also massively wasteful.”
“I want to put on record my thanks to campaigners in the marine conservation charities, including Shark Guardian, the Shark Trust, and Biteback, who have worked tirelessly to throw a spotlight on this barbaric procedure and highlight the need to establish a law to prevent it happening. My thanks also go to Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, for all her hard work in ensuring the Bill’s orderly passage through the Lords.”
Massive thanks to all the organizations and members of the public who have so passionately supported this campaign and get this bill to where it is today. We now look forward as this Bill goes onto the next stage of approval.