Shark fins protection welcomed (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Plans for new curbs on the practice of removing fins from live sharks have been welcomed by wildlife campaigners.

EU countries are the main exporter of shark fins to China, where they are used to make shark-fin soup.

A meeting in Brussels on Thursday drew up an action plan on "finning", which results in the deaths of the sharks.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the plans for Scottish waters went further, only giving permission in exceptional circumstances.

Environment groups claimed current law on finning - cutting fins off the living shark and dumping the low-value carcass at sea - was not strict enough.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8018284.stm