Ensenada, Baja California — The Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has intercepted a “historic” shipment of shark fins bound for China. The interception was made June 5 in the Mexican Port of Ensenada.
Profepa inspectors, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Navy (Semar), seized the shipment containing 2,433 kilos of dried shark fins in the Port of Ensenada, Baja California.
According to a June 11 statement by Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente), the shipment was destined for Shanghai, China. The illegal shipment, they said, was detected by Navy personnel during a port inspection.
Some of the species identified in the 135 bags are listed in CITES Appendix II. Federal inspectors say the seizure was “historic” for that type.
“On June 5, Navy personnel alerted Profepa personnel about the shipment. Upon arriving at the Strategic Precinct of the Port of Ensenada, Baja California, inspectors found a container containing 135 sacks of various weights containing shark fins,” they said.
“In coordination with personnel from the Navy and Customs, the bags of shark fins found were emptied, weighed, identified and separated by species. The sorting revealed that the container bound for Shanghai was carrying 2,433 kilograms of dried shark fins.
“After inspecting the cargo, it was possible to locate 1,282.35 kg of shark and ray fins, 151.65 kg of dried bull shark fins (Carcharhinus leucas), 317.38 kg of dried hammerhead shark fins (Sphyrna lewini) and 682.22 kg of silky shark fins (Carcharhinus falciformis).
“Among the identified fins of these species, some also belong to juveniles and newborns. NOM-029-PESC-2006, on the Responsible Fishing of Sharks and Rays, establishes that the exclusive use of the fins of any species of shark is prohibited,” they reported.
The export of bull sharks, hammerhead sharks and silky sharks to the international market is regulated by the current Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as they are listed in Appendix II, which establishes that their trade must be controlled so as not to jeopardize their survival.
During the investigation, the corresponding CITES certificate was requested to corroborate the legality of the seafood export. However, as the legality of the export to China was not proven, the fins were seized as a precautionary measure.
Customs was also requested to immobilize them immediately to prevent the product from leaving the country. Profepa will coordinate with the relevant authorities to follow up on the case.
