Shark finning will be banned in New Zealand waters under a government proposal announced today.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy made the announcement on Wellington's south coast today.
"The practise of finning sharks is inconsistent with New Zealand's reputation as one of the best managed and conserved fisheries in the world,'' Mr Guy said.
"We need to ensure New Zealand's 113 species of sharks are sustainably managed and that we provide incentives to utilise as much of the resource as practically possible.''
The Government proposal would take effect over the next two years.
Dr Smith said sharks might not be as cuddly as kiwi or as cute as dolphins but they were an important part of the country's marine diversity.
"Our attitude to sharks has come a long way since the Jaws days of `the only good shark being a dead shark'.
"This ban on finning is an important step towards improving shark conservation.''
Following the announcement at the Island Bay Marine Education Centre, the ministers donned waterproof gear and waded into the bay with three carpet sharks, which they released and then herded into open water.
"It's like herding cats,'' Dr Smith said.
Seven species of shark are protected under the Wildlife Act: great whites, basking sharks, deep water nursing sharks, spine-tailed devil rays, manta rays, whale sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks.
It is already an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to fin a shark and return it to the sea alive. However, it is lawful to catch a shark, kill it, remove its fins and dump the carcass at sea.
Dr Smith said it was that kind of waste that would be targeted under the proposal, which was out for public consultation until December, he said.
Shark fins are valuable for making shark fin soup, which is a delicacy in Asia, and for the production of many Asian medicines.
Mr Guy said banning shark finning in a practical and enforceable way required the development of "fishery-by-fishery strategies''.
"In some fisheries the ban will be able to be implemented on October 1, 2014. Others will require the development of guidelines for shark handling to maximise the survival of released sharks.''
