Spain, the world's second-largest exporter of shark fins

 

A comprehensive analysis of two decades of global shark product trade, led by the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) and the Interdisciplinary Research Center in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS, University of Santiago de Compostela), has revealed the complex network that moves shark meat and fins globally and the determining role that the European Union (EU) could play to boost its sustainability.

 

Published in the journal Marine Policy, the study, led by Andrés Ospina-Álvarez, Silvia de Juan Mohan, and Sebastián Villasante, in collaboration with international experts, underlines the need for an urgent transformation in an industry that, despite its economic value, has led to a decline in shark populations in recent decades.

Spain, a key piece in the global machinery

 

The research, which used network analysis techniques to examine more than 20 years of data, revealed distinctive trade patterns. While the fin trade is heavily concentrated in Asian markets , the Hong Kong and Singapore, the study highlights Spain as the world's second-largest exporter of fins, with Singapore as its main destination.

 

On the other hand, the shark meat trade presents a more distributed network. European Union, with Spain, Portugal and France at the top, along with South American countries such as Uruguay and Brazil, emerge as crucial nodes in global redistribution. Specifically, Spain imports shark meat from Latin America, Africa and Asia, and exports it mainly to Italy and Brazil, while France buys meat from United States for subsequent shipment to Italy.

Regulatory advances vs. gaps in control

 

Although the EU boasts advanced regulations on sustainable fishing and traceability tools such as the TRACES system, the study raises a serious warning about the structural deficiencies in its control mechanisms. The researchers point out that a tiny fraction of shark shipments are inspected in European ports, and, alarmingly, there is little enforcement of the rule requiring the landing of sharks with fins attached (a vital anti-finning measure).

 

To ensure that the EU takes on an effective leadership role, the authors propose concrete measures:

 

    Establish catch limits based on scientific evidence.
    Improve traceability with innovative technologies such as blockchain.
    Offer incentives and technical assistance to exporting countries.
    Make access to the European market conditional on sustainable and verifiable practices.

 

A global network that demands coordinated action

 

The protection of sharks transcends borders, since the supply chain It spans multiple countries, from deep-sea fishing to consumer sales. The research emphasizes that the current lack of traceability and regulation at many stages of the process amplifies the negative impacts, affecting not only local shark populations but also marine ecosystems and coastal communities around the world.

 

The study, therefore, is presented as a fundamental tool for redesigning the shark trade network under criteria of equity, sustainability, and transparency. Its objective is to mitigate harmful impacts and promote the global conservation of these vital marine species.