International Shark Finning Bans and Policies

Photo by iStock

Some countries/jurisdictions have enacted full or partial bans on the practice of shark finning—slicing off the fins of the shark at sea (often while the shark is still alive) and discarding the carcass. Still other country/jurisdictions have taken the additional step of enacting complete or partial bans on shark fishing (such that, by inclusion, shark finning is also banned). Some airlines, hotels, and other companies have also refused to transport, serve or sell shark fin products. Information on which jurisdictions and companies have (or in some cases, have not) taken steps to ban shark finning/fishing are listed below.

Countries/jurisdictions with full or partial bans on shark finning

  • United Kingdom (2023) no import/export of detached shark fins, including all products containing shark fins, such as tinned shark fin soup. Builds upon 2003 ban achieved via the Shark Finning Regulation and a 2009 ‘Fins Naturally Attached’ policy applicable in UK waters and by UK vessels worldwide. 
  • United States (2022) no sale, possession, transport, or purchase of shark fins and shark fin products
  • Mozambique (2021) no commercial fishing of whale sharks, manta rays, or any mobula species
  • Canada/British Columbia (2019) ban enacted on import and export of shark fins not naturally attached to the shark to/from Canada and British Columbia 
  • New Zealand (2014) no finning in territorial waters
  • British Virgin Islands (2014) no sale, possession, or distribution of shark fin products
  • China (2013) no shark fin dishes at official government functions
  • India (2013) sharks must be landed with fins attached to their bodies
  • Hong Kong (2013) no shark fin soup at government functions
  • European Union (2013) no finning by any vessel in EU waters or by any EU-registered vessel worldwide
  • The Republic of Malta (2012) sharks must be landed whole
  • Venezuela (2012) sharks be landed with fins naturally attached to their bodies
  • Brazil (2012) sharks be landed with fins naturally attached to their bodies
  • Taiwan (2012) all sharks be landed with fins naturally attached
  • Chile (2011) sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached to their bodies
  • Honduras (2010) no finning
  • United Kingdom (2009) no removal of shark fins at sea by any UK vessel worldwide
  • Guinea (2009) no finning in territorial waters
  • Argentina (2009) may not retain fins and discard carcasses
  • Sierra Leone (2008) no finning
  • Colombia (2007) sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached to their bodies
  • Panama (2006) no finning in territorial waters
  • El Salvador (2009) no finning in territorial waters
  • Seychelles (2006) no removal of fins on board vessel unless granted authorization
  • Costa Rica (2006) former “fins attached” requirement reinstated (cancelling a 2003 policy that allowed sharks to be landed without their fins)
  • Nicaragua (2004) no fin exports without proof that the meat was sold
  • Gambia (2004) no finning in territorial waters
  • Namibia (2003) no finning
  • Spain (2002) no fins on board without the corresponding carcasses
  • United States (2000) unlawful to possess a shark fin in US waters without a corresponding carcass; amended in 2010 to require sharks be brought ashore with fins naturally attached
  • United Arab Emirates (1999) sharks must be landed whole
  • New South Wales, Australia (1999) no finning in NSW coastal waters; sharks may not be taken on board any vessel without fins naturally attached
  • South Africa (1998) sharks must be landed, transported, sold or disposed of whole
  • Oman (1998) sharks must be landed, transported, sold or disposed of whole

This list was comprised in conjunction with WildAid, and with the help of resources from the Humane Society International.

Countries/jurisdictions with full or partial bans on shark fishing (such that shark finning is also banned)

  • Israel (1980) no shark fishing
  • Congo-Brazzaville (2001) no shark fishing
  • Ecuador (2004) no direct shark fishing in Ecuadorian waters, but sharks caught elsewhere may be landed in Ecuador
  • Egypt (2005) no shark fishing and commercial sale of sharks
  • French Polynesia (2006) no shark fishing, with exception of Mako sharks
  • Mexico (2007) no finning; (2011) no shark fishing from May to August
  • Guinea-Bissau (2008) no shark fishing in marine protected areas
  • Palau (2009) no shark fishing
  • Honduras (2010) no shark fishing
  • The Republic of Maldives (2010) no shark fishing
  • The Marshall Islands (2010 no commercial shark fishing or sale of shark products
  • Indonesia (2010) no shark fishing in Raja Ampat
  • The Cook Islands (2012) no commercial shark fishing, sale, or trade of shark products
  • The Bahamas (2011) no commercial fishing, sale, or trade in shark products
  • Marshall Islands (2011) no commercial shark fishing or sale of shark products
  • Tokelau Islands(2011) no shark fishing in territorial waters
  • Sabah, Malaysia (2011) no shark fishing, no possession and sale of fins
  • Brunei (2013) no harvest and importation of shark products
  • Fiji (2013) no shark fishing
  • UK Virgin Islands (2014) no commercial fishing of sharks or rays
  • United Arab Emirates (2014) no shark fishing from February 1 to June 30 and banned all imports and exports of shark products
  • Kiribati (2015) no commercial fishing in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area and Southern Line Islands

This list was comprised with the help of resources from the Humane Society International.

Companies that have banned shark fin soup

  • Hong Kong Disneyland
  • Amazon
  • Carrefour, NTUC Fairprice, Cold Storage—three major supermarket chains in Singapore
  • Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group
  • Shangri-la Hotel chain
  • Westin Macau
  • Fairmont Hotels Group
  • 111 hotels, 4 supermarkets, 9 restaurants, and 7 other organizations/companies—as part of the “Fin Free Thailand” program; several US-owned hotels participate in this program, including Four Seasons (Bangkok, Tented Camp, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui), and the JW Marriott (Phuket)
  • Starwood Hotels and Resorts (includes Westin USA, Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Four Points)
  • Marriott Hotel Group
  • Hilton Hotels
  • Melia Hotels—Spain’s biggest hotel chain
  • Ritz Carlton 

Companies that continue to serve shark fin soup

  • Hotel Nikko Kaisan Airport (part of Nikko Hotels International)
  • Hotel Nikko Narita (part of Nikko Hotels International)
  • Hotel Nikko Himeji (part of Nikko Hotels International)
  • Hotel Nikko Saigon (part of Nikko Hotels International)
  • Hotel Royal-Nikko Taipei (part of Nikko Hotels International)
  • Sapporo Prince Hotel (part of Prince Hotels and Resorts)
  • InterContinental Group, a UK-based company

This list was comprised in conjunction with WildAid.

Airlines that have banned shark fins

There are currently 45 airlines with full blanket bans on transport of shark fins:

  • Virgin Atlantic Airways
  • Etihad Airways—the national airline of the United Arab Emirates
  • Air New Zealand
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Qantas
  • Korean Airlines
  • Eva Air
  • Aeroméxico
  • LAN Chile/LATAM Airlines Group
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • Qatar Airways
  • FinnAir
  • Lufthansa
  • KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines)
  • Air Asia
  • Philippine Airlines (PAL)
  • Emirates
  • Air Seychelles
  • Thai Airways
  • Cebu Pacific
  • Swiss Airways
  • Air France
  • COPA
  • Jet Airways
  • China Airlines of Taiwan
  • American Airlines
  • Sri Lankan Airlines
  • Kenya Airways
  • Iberia
  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific Airways
  • Dragonair
  • HK Express
  • Air China
  • China Southern Airlines
  • China Eastern Airlines
  • Shanghai Airlines
  • China Cargo Airlines
  • China United Airlines
  • Air Canada
  • Malaysia Airlines
  • Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP)
  • Southwest Airlines

Airlines that have a partial ban on transport of shark fins (sustainable fins only policy):

  • Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific)

This list was comprised in conjunction with WildAid.

Airlines that continue to transport shark fin

  • Air India
  • All Nippon Airlines (ANA)
  • Ethiopian Airlines
  • Lion Air
  • Singapore Airlines
  • United Airlines

This list was comprised in conjunction with WildAid.

Shipping companies that have banned shark fin cargo

  • Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
  • Evergreen Shipping Line
  • OOCL
  • Hapag-Lloyd
  • Maersk
  • Hamburg Süd
  • Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)
  • APL
  • Yang Ming
  • NYK Line
  • HMM
  • “K” Line
  • PIL (Pacific International Line)
  • ZIM
  • Wan Hai Lines
  • China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited
  • UPS

Shipping companies that continue to carry shark fin cargo

  • China United Lines Ltd.—Liner routes include Taiwan, Vietnam
  • Kanway Line Company Limited—Liner routes include Taiwan, Vietnam
  • CK Line—Liner routes include Taiwan, Vietnam
  • Heung-A—Liner routes include Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore
  • JJ Shipping—Liner routes include Vietnam
  • KMTC—Liner routes include Indonesia, Taiwan
  • Namsung—Liner routes include Vietnam
  • Sinokor—Liner routes include Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam
  • Sinotrans—Liner routes include Indonesia, Vietnam
  • FedEx

This list was comprised in conjunction with WildAid.