The Fisheries Committee of the Senate has proposed penalties ranging from 30 to 500 monthly tax units (MTU), which is between CLP 1,890,000 (USD 4,000) and CLP 19,350,000 (USD 40,500) for those fishermen that are involved in shark finning.
These are some of the measures that senators recently passed in the bill – at the first stage – which provides severe penalties and fines under an initiative to restore shark populations.
The next step is for the Senate to rule in favour of a legal text.
The Executive reformulated the bill to incorporate this measure into the General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture (LPGA), said Sen. Antonio Horvath, president of the instance.
In addition, the legislator said the aim of the members of the Commission is to have ratified the project by May, which will mark the Month of the Sea in the country.
The project includes:
- The prohibition of mutilation of any shark fins on board vessels or fishing vessels;
- The obligation to make landings of sharks with their fins attached to all or part of their bodies.
As those that don’t comply will be punished with fines that will range between 30 and 300 UTM, which is between CLP 1,161,000 (USD 2,500) and CLP 11,340,000 (USD 23,700).
The senators also envisage the possibility of closing establishments or premises where they process, develop, transport, market or store fins.
The senators hope that in this way, it will protect sharks and reduce incidental catches in Chilean waters.
The Fisheries Committee heard during its meeting, during a speach by the general manager of the National Fisheries Company (Sonapesca), Hector Bacigalupo, who spoke on the institutional position in relation to the project on protection of marine ecosystems.
“They argue that they have no problem, as representatives of the industry, to protect those areas where there are significant variations in hydrothermal vents,” said the senator.
The conservation organization Oceana, welcomed the vote in favor of the bill.
“We appreciate that the government has supported a ban on shark finning, a practice which is extremely detrimental to these species. Now that we have produced a consensus on our proposal, we hope that as soon as Congress approves this bill, we can start its implementation,” said Oceana CEO, Alex Muñoz.
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