Call For Renewed Conservation Efforts Following Basking Shark Landing

THE Shark Alliance says it was on the scene for yesterday's fish market display of a six metre, two-ton, female basking shark, which it claims was landed illegally on Tuesday night in Zeebrugge, Belgium. The shark was reportedly taken unintentionally by Belgian trawlers fishing in the Celtic Sea. The fishermen say they were unaware that the species, considered endangered in the Northeast Atlantic, was protected. The basking shark is one of just two shark species to receive protection in European waters. Last year, the European Union prohibited fishing, retaining, transhipping and landing of basking sharks in all Community, non-Community and international waters. The same protections apply to non-EU vessels fishing in Community waters...