So a recent study came out and the results are fairly controversial: it suggests that Australia is the leading source of #shark fins to major markets in HK and the US 1/n https://www.smh.com.au/national/study-names-australia-as-a-major-source-for-shark-fin-trade-20201027-p5692n.html">https://www.smh.com.au/national/...

The study makes a good case for suggesting the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) are the area where most shark fins are collected, rather than open seas as previously believed. This means we can protect a lot of #shark species, which is good! 2/n

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0609">https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.10...

However, the study highlights that Australia is likely the main source of #shark fin in those major markets, and that just doesn& #39;t align with what we know about fisheries in Australia or globally. 3/n

For example, blue shark account for ~35% of shark fin in these markets. They& #39;re caught in Australia as bycatch by long-liners, and at most~1000 tonnes per year, which sounds like a lot, HOWEVER: compare that to 40,000 tonnes per year in the Atlantic 4/n

It also ignores that Australia& #39;s largest #shark fisheries, which are tiny compared to global standards, are often (not always!) some of the world& #39;s most sustainable examples of shark fishing, and this paper could be damaging to commercial fishers doing the right thing 5/n

So does Australia contribute to #shark fin trade? Absolutely, but to suggest Australia is the worst egg ignores the scale of where shark fisheries actually occur. I have more specific misgivings about the approach and conclusions, but I& #39;m sure others will cover those

/thread