AUSTRIA LARGELY BANS SHARK PRODUCTS.

Vienna, 21 April 2024 – Sharks are an indispensable part of a functioning marine ecosystem, upon which over a billion people worldwide are directly dependent. However, more than three-quarters of all shark species are acutely endangered and threatened with extinction due to overfishing of the world’s oceans and their targeted hunting for the predominantly Asian catering industry, cosmetics production, sexual enhancers, and similar products. In the past 50 years alone, the global population of sharks has declined by over 70 percent.

‘IF THE SHARKS DIE, HUMANS DIE TOO!’

For years, species and marine conservation organizations, such as SHARKPROJECT, have been highlighting the urgent need for action by politicians and businesses. Surprisingly to many, this issue also directly affects landlocked countries such as Austria. Even in this country, shark products like shark curls, shark steaks, and shark fin soup are still widely available in the food trade and catering industry. Austria even ranks fifth in Europe for shark meat imports. Shark ingredients are also regularly found in cosmetics, food supplements, and sexual enhancers, often without proper labeling or consumer information.

SHARKPROJECT INFORMS POLITICIANS ABOUT AUSTRIA’S ROLE IN THE SHARK TRADE

In 2022, SHARKPROJECT’s experts addressed this issue directly to the Austrian parliamentary parties and called for increased species protection measures and a ban on the import of shark products into Austria. On 14 December 2022, this led to a joint motion for a resolution, tabled by members of all parliamentary parties, coordinated by National Council member Lukas Hammer, Chairman of the Environment Committee and climate spokesperson for the Greens.

With this unanimously adopted resolution, the Austrian parliament called on the federal government to implement an import ban on shark products. After thorough review by the competent authorities, this was enacted with the Species Trade Supplementary Ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 107/2024), published on 18 April 2024, which defined the trade and import restrictions. (https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2024/107)

Sharks are now as strictly protected in Austria as other endangered species. Not only is the import and processing of shark meat prohibited, but the import of shark fins and similar souvenirs from holidays is also now a punishable offense. Violations of species protection regulations can result in fines of up to €40,000 and prison sentences of up to two years.

IMPORT BAN IN AUSTRIA AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR INTERNATIONAL SHARK PROTECTION

The shark species explicitly mentioned in the regulation and affected by the import and trade restrictions in Austria include the requiem shark family. This includes reef sharks, blue sharks, and bull sharks. The mako shark is now also specially protected, as its fins are highly sought after in Asian cuisine. Additionally, no products from whale sharks or great white sharks may be imported or processed. Exceptions are only possible in special cases and require individual import licenses from the authorities.

Gabriela Futterknecht, Project Manager at SHARKPROJECT, concludes: ‘SHARKPROJECT would like to thank Climate and Environmental Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, the sponsors of the motion for a resolution in Parliament, and especially National Councillor Lukas Hammer, Chairman of the Environment Committee, for their active commitment to shark protection. We know that politics can sometimes feel like a proverbial shark tank. That is why it is all the more important that all parties represented in the National Council have come together to protect sharks. Austria is now taking on a leading role in international shark protection.’

About SHARKPROJECT

SHARKPROJECT is a species conservation organization dedicated to protecting sharks and their marine habitat. In addition to educational and public relations work on marine conservation issues, SHARKPROJECT advocates for a global rethink regarding the use of our oceans, truly sustainable fishing practices, bycatch reduction, and the establishment of marine protected areas. All employees work on a voluntary basis, and all donations go directly to shark conservation projects. In addition to the umbrella organization SHARKPROJECT International, there are country organizations in Austria and Germany.