Shark Fins Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) - Call for Views

Overview

Background

The Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment (RAINE) Committee is undertaking scrutiny of the Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Shark Fins Bill, currently being considered in the UK Parliament, and is seeking your views.

The Bill aims to prohibit the import and export of detached shark fins, except where it is for purposes related to shark conservation. It also aims to amend retained EU law on the removal of shark fins on board vessels. 

The Scottish Government intends to lodge a motion recommending that the Scottish Parliament agree to the provisions of the Bill which relate to devolved competence. The LCM says that the Bill aligns with key Scottish Government priorities, including reversing biodiversity loss, enhancing marine environmental protection and affirming that Scotland will not participate in the trade of fins obtained through shark finning.

More detailed information on the Bill and LCM are available on the Scottish Parliament website.

What does the Bill aim to do?

Imports

The Bill will prohibit the import into the UK or the export from the UK of detached shark fins or products containing them.

This would be the case except where certain conditions are met, including where the shark fins (or products containing them) are to be used for purposes connected with the conservation of sharks. The Bill also alters the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers - as the “appropriate authority” - in relation to importing or exporting shark fins, or products containing them, to or from Scotland.

Non-UK fishing vessels

Currently, these prohibitions only apply to UK fishing vessels in any maritime waters. This Bill would ensure that prohibitions contained within retained EU legislation, on removing shark fins on board vessels and on retaining on board, transhipping or landing shark fins, would also apply to non-UK fishing vessels in UK waters.

Trading

Amendments to the Bill will ensure that purchasing, offering for sale or selling shark fins which have been removed on board, retained on board, transhipped or landed is prohibited by non-UK fishing vessels just as it is for UK fishing vessels in any maritime waters.

What does the Committee want to know?

The Committee welcomes your views on the Bill as it relates to matters within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 13 January 2023.