Data Available to the Commission to Address the Implementation and Effectiveness of CMM 2010-07 regarding Shark Finning

Shark finning is the practice of removing and retaining all or some of a shark’s fins and discarding its carcass at sea. WCPFC prohibits this practice under CMM 2010-07 by introducing the concept of a 5% fins-to-carcass ratio, but the measure permits alternative technical approaches and does not prescribe how CCMs should demonstrate compliance. Nevertheless, the measure requires that its implementation and effectiveness be reviewed on the basis of advice from the Scientific Committee, the Technical and Compliance Committee and the Commission. Past sessions of each meeting have discussed this review, and in some cases, have concluded that the information made available to them is an insufficient basis for their review. This paper seeks to provide an inventory of the types of data available to the Secretariat that could inform these committees about the practice of finning. The objective of this paper is to pose some of the questions that arise when considering an implementation and effectiveness review of CMM 2010-07, and to catalogue the information available to the Secretariat and the Commission to address these questions.