Unprecedented International Effort to Prevent Shark Finning Blocked by Japan & China

A recent meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) faced significant pushback against a proposal to ban shark finning. Japan and China blocked efforts to limit shark fin removal at sea, despite an international push for shark protections. However, the meeting did result in some progress by establishing protections for other species like devil rays and whale sharks. This ongoing battle highlights the challenges in conserving shark populations, which are crucial to marine ecosystems.