Canada becomes the first G20 country to ban shark fin trade

AKIPRESS.COM - Canada has become the first G20 nation to ban the import and export of shark fins, in an effort help preserve a predator under threat, BBC reports.
The country is the largest importer of shark fins outside Asia, though shark finning in the domestic fishery has been illegal since 1994.
The shark fin trade is believed to have contributed to the precarious status of many shark species worldwide.
An estimated one-third of fins sold come from species that are at risk.
Critics say the way many of the fins are collected is inhumane and unsustainable and has had a devastating impact on global shark populations.
Shark finning involves cutting off the valuable fin while the shark is alive, and discarding the rest of the body.
Canada's bill bans the import and export, to and from Canada, of shark fins that are not attached to the shark.
It was passed by parliament this week after years of effort by legislators and campaigners, and received Royal Assent on Friday.
Fins are some of the most expensive seafood items in the world, as the meat is considered a delicacy.
In 2018, Canada imported over 148,000 kg (326,000 lbs) of shark fins.