Download - shark finning letter April 5th 2019 final · The MSC’s policy on shark finning is very clear in stating, that “… the CAB should not certify or maintain the certification of

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ToMr.RupertHowes,ChiefExecutiveDr.WernerKiene,ChairoftheBoardMarineStewardshipCouncilMarineHouse1SnowHillLondonEC1A2DHDATE

OPENLETTER April5th,2019

DearDr.Kiene,DearMr.Howes,DearMSCTrustees,

ThisisanopenlettercallingtheMSCforactionandwerespectfullyaskyoutosharethisletterwithallofyourboardmembersandtheStAC.

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Thankyouforyourletterdated26October2018.AsProf.Dr.MichelKaiser,whowrotethisletter,isnolongerwiththeMSC,weareaddressingourresponsetoyouinstead.

Pleaseexcusethatthisresponsetooklongerthanexpected,butwewerehopingtoseesomeproactiveandconstructiveprogressfromMSCtoresolvethisterribleissue.Unfortunatelynothinghashappenedsofarotherthanthestartofapublicconsultationonsharkfinningofwhichtheproposedoptionshaveunfortunatelynotbeensharedwiththesignatoriesofthisletterupfront,sothatwecouldhaveprovidedourexpert&stakeholderinputforthedescriptionoftheseproposals.

Wehavehoweversharedanddiscussedyourresponsewiththesignatoriesoftheletterfromlastyearandwouldliketosharetheoutcomeofthesediscussionswithyoutoday.Inadditionwealsohopetodrawyourattentiontosomefurtherresearchwehavedoneinthemeantime,whichshows,thattheissueofsharkfinningisbyfarnotlimitedtothePNAfishery,whichwehadusedasanexampleinourpreviousletter.

1. ExecutiveSummary

TheMSCclaimstobecommittedtoensuringthatsharkfinningdoesnottakeplaceinanyfisheriesthatarecertifiedassustainable,viaaclear,easilyappliedpolicy.However,evidenceshowsthattheCABsarefailingtoproperlyapplytheMSCstandardasregardssharkfinning.Inordertorectifythissituation,theMSCcertificationshouldberevisedtorequirethata“finsnaturallyattached”policybeinplaceandcompliedwithinorderforafisherytoreceiveascoreofSG60.ItisalsoimperativethatMSCrequirestheCABstoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple.CABshaverepeatedlymadedeterminationsonthelikelihoodoftheexistenceoffinningdespitenotingalackofdataavailability.Iffinning,bycatch,andcompliancedataareunavailableorinsufficient,CABsshouldbeprohibitedfromcertifyingthefisherywithrespecttosharkfinning.Finally,MSCmustensurethattheCABsarecorrectlyapplyingMSCsharkfinningscorestandards.Innumerouscertifiedfisheriesoverthepastdecade,CABshavedeterminedthatitis‘unlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace’despiteevidenceoffinningandnoevidenceofsanctionsbeingimposedrelatedtosuchfinning.CABsshouldonlybepermittedtocertifyafisheryifthedataconclusivelyshowtheresultneeded(i.e.SG60ifthedataconclusivelyshowthatitisunlikelythatsharkfinningistakingplace).

2. YourResponsetoourLetter

Weappreciateyourresponsetoourletter,howeverwewouldliketocorrectsomefactualmisperceptionandincompletefactsthatwerepresented.

2.1. Reducingtheincidenceofsharkfinning

WenoticethatyourresponsereferringtothenewspaperreportsandsimilartotheevidencesubmittedbyMrHowes/theMSCfollowingtheEAChearingiswhollyinadequateforthefollowingreasons:

§ Thereareonly4/5incidentsreportedintotal.§ ThreeoftheincidentsreportedarefromJuly2012.TheMSCbandidnotcomeintoeffectuntil

2013.Ofthethreereported,onlytwosanctionswereimposedandonecasewasstillongoing.§ Thetwonewsreportsfrom2013relatetolong-liners,whicharenotpartoftheMSCcertified

fishery.§ Thenewsreportsfrom2012statethatthesanctionappliedwasafine.WhilsttheMarshall

IslandsFisherieslawprovidesafinelevelthatcanbeappliedfrom$25,000to$200,000plusanamountequivalenttothevalueofsharkfinsconfiscated,thetwovesselsreportedlyfinedhad

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beenfinedmerely$55,000.Therefore,notonlywasthefineatthebottomendofthescalebuttheleveloffineisadropintheoceanformostfisheries.

§ Onlyonereporttalksofaban,andthat,asaforesaidrelatedtoalong-linervesselthatisnotpartofthecertifiedfishery.

§ AllofthereportsrelatetosanctionsreportedtohavebeenimposedintheMarshallIslands,yetthePNAisformedof8countries.

§ TheMSChasbeenunabletoprovideanyevidencethatavesselinthePNAFAD-FreefisheryhasbeenappropriatelysanctionedsincetheimpositionoftheMSCban.Indeed,noevidenceofanysanctionsbeingimposedintheperiodfromApril10,2013tothedateofsubmissionhasbeenprovided,aperiodofover5andahalfyears,or,5yearsifyoutakethedateoftherecertificationofthePNA.

Therefore:

§ 429incidentsoffinninginthePNAbetween2012-2015.§ 5newspaperreports.§ 3frombeforetheMSCbanhadcomeintoeffect.§ 2relatingtoirrelevantlong-liners.§ 426casesforwhichtheMSChasnotprovidedanyevidence,thatvesselshavebeen

appropriatelysanctionedinthePNAintheperiod2012-2015.Thatis99.3%ofcases.

YourreferencetothedownwardtrendoffinninginWCPFCtechnicalandcompliancecommitteereportWCPFC-TCC14-2018-RP02with1019,332,130and22reportedincidencesbetween2014and2017showsindeedaverymuchappreciatedoveralldeclineoffinningintheregion.Whileweagreethat“themeasuresinCMM2013-08[have]beenthecatalyst”forthisencouragingdecline,thosenumbersshouldstillbeevaluatedwithcaution,especiallythefigurefor2017,asthisfigure“onlyrepresentsapprox.50%ofdatacollectedin2017”.FurthermoreitshouldbenotedthatWCPFC-TCC13-2017-RP02actuallyhadreportedonly994,190,and97casesoffinningfor2014,2015,and2016,whichobviouslyhadtobecorrectedtohighervaluesinthe2018reportfortheyears2014and2015,asmoredatahadbecomeavailable.

WehavealsonoticedthatthesurveillanceauditofthePNAfisheryhasbeenscheduledfortheweekcommencing1stApril2019,andinlightofourconcernsaboutongoingsharkfinningandthelackofprosecutionsinthisfishery,wewillbekeepingacloseeyeonproceedingsfromthissurveillanceaudit.

2.2. LackofTransparency

WewereverydisappointedtobeingreferredbacktotheCABforactualevidenceofotherprosecutionsandtheoutcomeofthese,whenthesameCABhadalreadyfailedtoprovidesuchevidenceduringtheassessmentandobjectionprocess.AsastandardsettertheMSCitselfshouldproactivelyinvestigateandupholditsstandardwhenbeingmadeawareofsuchenormousdiscrepanciesbetweenthereportedandprosecutedcasesofviolationsofthebaninacertifiedfishery.

2.3. MovingForward

YoursuggestionthatMSCmightpossiblyconsiderchangesintheupcomingstandardreviewasto“anyvesselprosecutedforsuch[sharkfinning]wouldbeexcludedfromtheunitofcertification“clearlyfallsshortofstrengtheningtheenforcementofthecurrentfinningbaninlightoftheseshortcomingsinactualprosecutionstohappen.

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Therefore,weremaindeeplyconcernedthatwhiletheMSCcontinuestoinformthepublicthattheabhorrentpracticeofsharkfinningisbanned,itcontinuestotakeplaceincertifiedfisheriesand,inviewofyourannouncementoftheupcomingpublicconsultationonsharkfinning,wewishtosummariseanumberofoutstandingissuesforyoururgentconsideration.

§ Asaminimumwewouldhaveexpectedtoseea“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”tobeimplementedasamandatoryrequirementforallfisheriesinteractingwithsharks.While“finsnaturallyattached”arealreadymandatoryinEUsince2013andothercountries,theWCPFC,initsWCPFC-TCC14-2018-22,5thDraft,2018,proposestoimplementthepolicyinorder“toevaluateandassesscompliance,asithasnotbeenabletoassesscompliancewiththe5%finstocarcassratiocurrentlyincludedinCMM2010-07”.

§ MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognises“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChasnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60or“likely“toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.

§ Theintroductionofa“finsnaturallyattachedpolicy”forlandingsofsharksandsharkproductswasalsorequestedinourOctober2018letterandhasbeenproposedbyotherstakeholders,too.Itstatesthegloballyrecognisedbestpracticetoverifyandensurefinningisnottakingplace.

§ Thisshouldhavebeenconsideredasaproposalforthecurrentconsultation.

3. FurtherResearchUndertaken

Thepolicy

TheMSC’spolicyonsharkfinningisveryclearinstating,that“…theCABshouldnotcertifyormaintainthecertificationofafisherywhenthereisobjectiveverifiableevidencethatindicatessharkfinningistakingplace.”CABsassessingfisheriesmustawardascoreofSG60whereitislikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace,SG80whereitishighlylikelynottakingplace,andSG100wherethereisahighdegreeofcertaintyfinningisnottakingplace.WheretheCABknowsfinningistakingplace,thefisherymustreceiveafailscoreonthisindicator.

Thepolicyinpractice

Despitetheclarityofthispolicy,itsapplicationhasbeensubjecttointerpretation,notablyfromtheMSC‘InterpretationLog’.

Forexample,thisLogstatesthat“Ifonlyoneortwocaseshavebeenreported,forexample,andthevessel/sinvolvedhavebeenappropriatelysanctioned,thentheteammaystillconcludethatitislikelyorhighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceinanysignificantway”.Thisinterpretationisnotconsistentwiththepracticebeingbanned.

SharkfinninginMSC-certifiedtunafisheries

EvenmoreconcerningisthatthereappearstobeamuchwidertoleranceofsharkfinningtohappeninMSCcertifiedfisheriesbeyondtheexampleofthePNAfishery.Sofarwehavereviewedthisfisheryasthemostprominentexample,however,afteramoreintensivereviewofothercertificationreportsthisappearstobefarfrombeingaoneoffincidence.

Wehavereviewedtheassessmentreportsforanumberofcertifiedtunafisheriesandconsideredwhetherthisinterpretationisbeingappliedinthewayconsumerswouldreasonablyexpect–pleaseseetablebelow.

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Wenotethatthisreviewhasn’tevenincludedanyfisheriesthatdirectlytargetsharksoranyotherfisheriesoutsidetuna,someofthesefisherieshaveevenlargerbycatchofsharks,suchase.g.long-linerstargetingswordfish.

Havingdoneso,wehavethreeconcerns:

1. ThepracticalapplicationofMSC’spolicyonsharkfinninginpractice;2. Theapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproachtotheassessmentoffisherieswheresharkfinning

istakingplace;3. Thelackofconsistencyandtheimpactonconsumers.

Fishery CAB’sassessmentandMSC’sapplicationofshark-finningban

PNAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfin

§ Certifiedsince2011§ Re-certifiedin2018

https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/pna-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-unassociated-non-fad-set-tuna-purse-seine/@@assessments

§ Atleast429instancesofsharkfinningduringperiodconsideredbytheCAB(2012-2015).

§ EvidencerecentlysubmittedbyMSCtoUKParliament’sEnvironmentalAuditCommitteedidnotdemonstratethatthevessel/sinvolvedhadbeenappropriatelysanctioned.Evidencesharedcoveredjust4/5incidents,ofwhich3pre-datethebancomingintoeffectand2relatetolong-linersnotpartoftheMSCfishery.

§ Despite429incidencesoffinningandanabsenceofappropriatesanctions,ascoreof80wasassignedonthisSIandthePNArecertifiedin2018.

§ NomorerecentdatahavebeenprovidedalthoughobserverdatafromtheRFMOhavebeenpublished…

Tri-MarineWesternandCentralPacificSkipjackandYellowfinTunafishery

§ Certifiedsince2016

https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/tri-marine-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-tuna/@@assessments

§ Acknowledgedinassessmentreportthat21instancesofsharkfinningoccurred2010-2013.

§ TheCABSCSnotedthatfinningwasa“rareevent”butalsoacknowledgedconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC102014)“aboutthelevelofreporting,theambiguityofthefin-to-carcassratiomethodformonitoringcompliance,thesubsequentinabilityoftheWCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasure,andthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnon-compliance.TherequirementsoftheSG80levelarethereforenotconsideredtobemet”.

§ DespiteSCCnoting“thereisnotyetevidencethattherareexamples[ofsharkfinning]arefollowedbyappropriatesanctions…”,theyscoredtherelevantSIat75.

§ Aconditionwasplacedrequestingthat‘bythefourthsurveillanceauditdemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplaceorthat,ifrarecasesarereported,thatmeasuresaretakentoaddresstheissue.”

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WPSTAWesternandCentralPacificskipjackandyellowfinfreeschoolpurseseine

§ Certifiedin2018

https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/wpsta-western-and-central-pacific-skipjack-and-yellowfin-free-school-purse-seine/@@assessments

§ SCSconfirmedfortheChineseUoCthatthey“werenotprovidedwithdatafromtheobserverdatabasesonthenumberofsharkfinningeventsrecordedfortherelevantvessels…ourscoresinsteadreflectthelowlevelsofsharkfinningthathavebeenrecordedonotherWPFCpurseseinevessels.”

§ Regardingsanctions,SCSnoted“OurassessmentalsoreflectsthegeneralconcernsexpressedbytheTCC(TCC2014)about…thesubsequentinabilityoftheSCPFCtodeterminecompliancewiththismeasureandthelackofanyclearsanctionsforthefewreportedcasesonnoncompliance.”

§ Despitethisacceptancethattherewere“lowlevelsoffinning”,andalackofanyclearsanctionsimposed,itwasstillscoredat75.

§ TheCABwassatisfiedbyplacingconditionsthatforChina/ChineseTaipeibythethird/secondsurveillanceauditthefisheryhasto“provideevidencethatissufficienttodemonstratethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace”

TheNorth-EasternTropicalPurseSeineyellowfinandskipjacktunafishery

§ Certifiedin2017

https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/northeastern-tropical-pacific-purse-seine-yellowfin-and-skipjack-tuna-fishery/@@assessments

§ TheCABconfirmedsharkfinningwastakingplace–thenumberofinstanceswassmall.

§ Regardingsanctions,theCABstatedthatCONAPESCAprovidedevidenceofacaseofsharkfinningbyavesselandthevesselwasfoundguilty.

§ However,thatvesselwasnotfromtheUoAanditwasstatedthecasewassubjecttoappealandongoing(CONAPESCA,2015b).

§ “TherearenorecentdatafromtheComplianceCommittee,however,onthelevelofcompliancewithC-05-03andnoinformationthroughtheIRPonsanctionsforanynon-compliance.Wethereforedonotconsiderittobehighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”TheCABrecordedascoreof70.

§ TheCABplacedaconditionforSilkysharksandoceanicwhitetips,requestingthat“bythefourthannualsurveillance,provideevidencethatitishighlylikelythatsharkfinningisnottakingplace.”

SZLCCSFC&FZLCFSMEEZLonglineYellowfinandBigeyeTuna

§ Certifiedin2019

§ TheUoAispredominantlymadeupbyChineseandTaiwanesevessels

§ Withonly57trainedobserversavailableforboththelong-lineandpurseseinefleet)noobservershavebeenplacedonnon-FSMflaggedlong-lineboatsinrecentyears.Forthisassessment,NORMAprovidedobserverdatafor2015and2016,correspondingto3and6tripsforthoseyearsrespectively.

§ “AtnationalFSMlevel,allelasmobranchs(sharksandrays)are

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https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/szlc-csfc-fzlc-fsm-eez-longline-yellowfin-and-bigeye-tuna/@@assessments

protectedunderSection913ofitsFSMCodeTitle24.Theregulationdoesnotbanthelandingofsharks,butstipulatesthatallsharkscaughtalivemustbereleasedandthatanysharkdeaduponhaulingmaybelandedwithitsfinsnaturallyattached.Atstatelevel(Chuuk,Pohnpei,KosraeandYaap),sharksanctuariesareinplaceandsharksareonlyallowedtobetargetedfortraditionaluse”.However,thisdoesnotaffecttheUoAasthisfisherytakesplaceoutsidethe24nmlimit!

§ “Sincetheregulationswereadoptedin2015,NORMAreportsagoodlevelofcompliancebyalllong-linefleets,includingtheUoA.Oneside-effect,however,hasbeenthatsharksthatwerepreviouslyretainedandthereforereportedinlogbookdata,arenowmorefrequentlycutoffatthelinewhichhaslikelyresultedinunder-reporting”.

§ “Thismeansthattheobserverdataarenowtheonlyreliablesourceoninteractionswithsharksinthisfishery.Whiletheteamagreedthattheavailableobserverdataprovidessomeobjectivebasisforconfidencethatthestrategywillwork(SG80ismet),theevidencebasewaslackingtoprovidehighconfidence.SG100isnotmet”.

§ Dataavailability:“Forthisassessment,logbookdatafor2015and2016wereobtainedfortheentireUoA,assummarisedinTable10.Thereasonwhyonlytwoyears’dataarepresentedinthereportisrelatedtotheimplementationofthesharkregulationsatthestartof2015.Inadditiontoabanonsharkfinning,long-linevesselswerenolongerpermittedtotargetorlandsharksasaresultoftheseregulations.Onlysharksthatweredeaduponhaulingarenowpermittedtobelanded,withfinsnaturallyattached.”

§ “Theteamthereforedeterminedthatlogbookandobserverdatapriorto2015werenotrepresentativeofthecurrentUoA”.

§ Sharkfinningwasconsideredas“notrelevantasthetargetspeciesisnotashark”and“sharksareallprotectedinFSMandarethereforeconsideredunderETPspecies“

§ Thereforenotscoringisavailableandnoconditionhasbeenplacedonsharkfinningdespitethelowobserverlevel(andliterallynoobserversontheChineseandTaiwanesevessels!

Inourview,eachoftheabovefisheriesfailed/failstomeettherequiredcompliancewiththestandard.

Failuretoapplytheprecautionaryprinciple

TheMSC,followingtheFAOInternationalCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheries(1995)andtheUNFishStocksAgreement(1995),statesitsintentionfortheprecautionaryapproachtobeappliedthroughcertificationrequirements.

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Again,whilethispolicyisclear,itsapplicationwithregardstosharkfinninginthefisheriesashighlightedaboveisanythingbut.

§ Forexample,aunitbeingscoredat75despitenodatabeingprovidedonthenumberofsharkfinningevents,andalackofclearsanctionsonthefewreportedcasesofnon-compliance,doesnotappeartobeanevidentapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproach.

§ Anditalsoappearsincompatiblewithanprecautionaryapproach,thatafisheryoperatingwithTaiwaneseandChinesevesselsgetscertifiedsettingonlyaconditionthatthefisheryhastodemonstratewithinatimeframeof2-3yearsthatsharkfinningismostlikelynothappening.AlthoughthereispublicknowledgeasrecentlypublishedbyEJFhttps://ejfoundation.org/search/results?searchbar=shark+finning,thatespeciallyTaiwanesevesselsarestilloftenengaginginsharkfinning,andthatneitherChinanorTaiwanarestrictlyenforcingthebanonsharkfinning.

§ Orsharkfinningisnotscoredatallwithreferenceto“sharkfinningisbannedandsharksmustnotberetained”,asthesolejustificationfornotscoring.YetatthesametimetheCABacknowledgesthatonlylittleobserverdataandliterallynoobserverforthepredominantlyChineseorTaiwanesevesselsinthefisheryareavailabletoverifythenumbersandthefateofanestimated1600silkysharkscaughtbythisfisheryperyear.

Lackofconsistency

Theexampleshighlightedabovealsodemonstrateaclearlackofconsistencyinscoring.Forexample,thePNAfishery,wheretherewereatleast429incidentsofsharkfinning,wasawardedascoreof80(i.e.highlylikelythatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).Meanwhile,theTri-Marinefishery,wheretherewere21reportedincidentsofsharkfinning,receivedascoreof75(‘likely’thatthereisnosharkfinningtakingplace).

Consequently,thereisnotonlyadiscrepancybetweenconsumersbeingtoldsharkfinningisbannedanditscontinuedincidentincertifiedfisheries,butalsosignificantdiscrepanciesinthewayinwhichtheMSC’ssharkfinningpolicyisapplied.Thesemakeitdifficultforaconsumertounderstand,andhaveconfidencein,thatpolicy.

Conclusion

Toconclude,MSC’sstatedpolicyonsharkfinningappearstobeclear,easytoapplyandprovidingcertaintytoconsumers.ThispolicyisalteredbytheInterpretationLog’sstatementthatafisheryshouldnotfailforsharkfinningifthe“oneortwo”incidentshavebeenappropriatelydealtwithandthevesselssanctioned.IfthatwerehowMSCpolicywasapplied,thenitdoesnotseematoddswithastatementthatthepracticeisbanned.

However,inreality,theaboveexamplesdemonstratethatCABshaveconcludeditis“likelyorhighlylikelysharkfinningisnottakingplace”evenincaseswherethereislittleornodata,littleornoevidenceofsanctions,orthefactof429confirmedincidents.Alsoapplyingaprecautionaryapproachcertificationoffisheriesthatareathighriskofbeinginvolvedinsharkfinning,suchasfisherieswithChineseorTaiwanesevessels,shouldrequireamuchhigherscrutinyduringassessmentandcertificationtoidentifywhethersharkfinningcanberealisticallyassumedas“likely”or“highlylikely”nottohappen.Settingaconditionbywhichthefisheryhastoprovidesuchproofwithinatimeframeof2-3yearsaftercertificationisfarfromtakingaprecautionaryapproach.

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§ Sharkfinningshouldprecludeafisheryupfrontfromenteringthecertificationprocess.Beforecertification,fisheriesthathaveahighriskofinteractingwithsharks,aseithertargetingsharksorhavinghighsharkbycatchinsecondaryspeciesorinETPspecies,shallhaveinplacea‘finsnaturallyattachedpolicy’andCABsmustverifypriortocertificationthatthepolicyisinplaceandcompliedwith.MSCFisheriesStandardv2.01(31August2018)recognisesonpage36“thatapolicyrequiringthelandingofallsharkswithfinsnaturallyattachedisthemostrigorousapproachtoensuringthatsharkfinningisnotoccurring“,yetMSChassofarnotmadethisamandatoryrequirementforscoringSG60,toensurethatapracticethatisofficiallybannedcanindeednothappeninacertifiedfishery.

§ AvailabilityofadequateexternalverificationforbycatchdataandcompliancewiththebanonsharkfinningisessentialtojustifythescoringoftheCAB.Whileboth,representativehumanobservercoverageorelectronicsurveillancemeasuresmaybeadequatemeasures,theextentofcoveragemustbeconsistentthroughoutfisherieswithsimilarrisksandnolongeratthediscretionoftheCABtodecide,whichextenttoconsideradequate.

§ TheongoingmisapplicationoftheFCRmustnotbeallowedtocontinue.MSCmuststrictlyenforcethetermsoftheFCRonlyallowing1or2incidentswherethereisclear,unequivocalpubliclyavailableevidencethatthevesselshavebeenappropriatelysanctioned.WhereCABshavenotadoptedsuchastance,MSCmustintervene.Ifthecurrentrulesdonotallowthis,theyshouldberevisedassoonaspossible.

We,asagroupofleadingconservationorganisations,smallnon-profitsdedicatedtosharkconservationandtheeradicationofsharkfinning,ethicalretailers,andresponsibleseafoodsuppliers,arekeentoworkwithyouinfindingsolutionssothatthescourgeofsharkfinningispermanentlyeliminatedfromallMSC-certifiedfisheries.TheMSCcanplayanimportantleadershiprolebyensuringthatyourboarddecisiononsharkfinningisfullyimplementedandthatyourorganisationisseentochampionanotoleranceapproachwithrespecttothisabhorrentpractice.

Wehopethatyouwillseethisletterasaconstructiveengagement,settingoutstepsthatyoucantaketoprotectsharksfromfinninginexistingandfutureMSC-certifiedfisheries.Bydoingthisyouwillalsobefulfillingyourdutytoprotectconsumersfrombuyingfishthathasbeenassociatedwiththiswantonandhighlydestructivepractice,whiletheyactuallybelievethattheyarehelpingtoprotectendangeredspeciesandthebiodiversityofouroceans,throughtheir“sustainable”choices.

WearesureyouagreethattheMSClabelshouldneverbeassociatedwiththisabhorrentpractice.

Yourssincerely,

TimThomasPresidentAmericanAlbacoreFishingAssociationNatalieWebsterOperationsDirectorAmericanTunaTooniMahtoFisheriesandThreatenedSpeciesCampaignManagerAustralianMarineConservationSociety

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SusanMillwardDirectorMarineAnimalProgramAnimalWelfareInstituteJoséTrudaPalazzo,Jr.Vice-PresidentTheAugustoCarneiroInstituteDr.FrédéricLeManachScientificDirectorBloomKatrienVandevelde&JanWoutersFoundersBlueSharkConservation

Dr.MarkJonesHeadofPolicyBornFreeFoundationIsabelNaranjoPresidentCREMA(CentroRescateEspeciesMarinasAmenazadas)AlejandraGoyenecheaSeniorInternationalCounselDefendersofWildlifeSiphokaziNdudaneDeputyDirectorGeneralDepartmentofAgricultureForestryandFisheriesRepublicofSouthAfricaUlrikeKirschFoundationBoardMemberDeutscheStiftungMeeresschutzPauloGuilhermeAlvesCavalcantiCo-FounderDiversforSharksShannonArnoldMarinePolicyCoordinatorEcologyActionCentreFelipeVallejoExecutiveDirectorEquilibrioAzul

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BilloHeinzpeterStuderPresidentFairFishInternationalAssociationRandallArauzMarineConservationPolicyConsultantFinsAttachedMarineResearchandConservation

ValeskaDiemelDirectorFishAct

SandraBessudoLionFundadora/DirectoraEjecutivaFundaciónMalpeloyOtrosEcosistemasMarinosUlrichKarlowskiBoardMemberGesellschaftzurRettungderDelphineVeerleRoelandtPresidentTheGlobalSharkConservationInitiativeOliverKnowlesSeniorAdvisorOceansCampaignGreenpeaceInternationalAndrewLurieSeniorAttorney,InternationalLaw&TradeHumaneSocietyInternationalDavidPhillipsDirectorInternationalMarineMammalProjectEarthIslandInstitutePierre-AndréAdamICSHeadofScience&ProjectsIslandConservationSocietyFredericBuyleNektosDr.JorgeA.JiménezDirectorGeneralMarVivaRosarioAlvarezExecutiveDirectorMIGRAMAR

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Dr.CorneliaE.Nauen,VorsitzendeMundusmarisSandraHinniProjektleiterinNachhaltigkeitFischMIGROSNatalieWebsterVicePresidentOperationsOceanHarvestersOperative

JorgeSerenderoCEOFortheOceansFoundationSigridLüberPresidentOceanCareLouiePsihoyosExecutiveDirectorOceanicPreservationSociety

Dr.SandraAltherrFounderProWildlifeGeorgienneBradleyDirectorSeaSaveFoundationJorgeSerendroPresidentSeaShepherdConservationSociety,CostaRicaAndyOttawayFoundingDirectorSealProtectionActionGroup

FernandoReisExecutiveDirectorSharksEducationalInstituteFabienneRossierPresidentSharksMissionFranceMarieLevineExecutiveDirectorSharkResearchInstitute

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SabineFalkBoardSharkSaversGermanyDavidMcGuireDirectorSharkStewardsStefanieBrendlExecutiveDirector,FounderSharkAllies

HerbertFutterknechtPresidentSharkprojectAustriaFriederikeKremer-ObrockPresidentSharkprojecte.V.GermanyAlexSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectInternationalDeniseSmolinskyPresidentSharkprojectSwitzerland

BaronJuppKerckerinckzurBorgFounderSharkprotecte.V.Germany

AliHoodDirectorofConservationTheSharkTrustJulianEngelSecondChairmanStopFinningTomVierusMarineBiologist,Photographer,Filmmaker,GermanSciencePhotographer2016/2017Prof.RalphO.SchillPresidentScientificCommitteeGermanUnderwaterFederation(VDST)

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AlexHoffordWildlifeCampaignerWildAidHongKongDr.AndrewVenterChiefExecutiveOfficerWILDTRUSTSouthAfrica

AndyOttawayFoundingDirectorCampaignWhaleLatiefaBehardienHeadofTechnologyLongLifeWoolworthsJohnBurtonChairmanandChiefExecutiveWorldWiseFoods

CallumRobertsProfessorofMarineConservation,EnvironmentDepartmentUniversityofYork,UK

Dr.Catherine(Cat)Dorey,IndependentAdvisoronFishesandFisheries

PhillipeCurySeniorScientistandScientificCoodinatorofEUROMARINEInstitutdeRecherchepourleDéveloppement