European fisheries

Contrary to popular belief, Europe plays a major role in the global catch, export and import of sharks, in both home and  distant waters.

In 2004, according to FAO data (see table below), EU countries caught nearly 115,000t of shark (including rays and chimaeras). Spain took the largest share at around 45 per cent of the EU total, followed by France (18 per cent), the UK (14 per cent) and Portugal (10.5 per cent).

Spain stands out Spain’s role in shark fishing and trade has increased dramatically since 1990. The country’s reported shark catch is made up of about one-third blue sharks and one-fifth shortfin mako.   Examples of Spain’s dominance in world shark production include: 1997 – the world’s largest annual catch of sharks at nearly 100,000 metric tons (t) 1999 – the world’s greatest supplier of shark fins to Hong Kong by far, at 2,000t and more than one-quarter of the market 2003 – world leader in imports of shark products with 15 per cent of the global share, up from 5 per cent in 1990 2004 – responsible for 45 per cent of total EU shark catches, about 50,000t.

EU countries: Total catches of sharks in 2004
These figures represent only the reported numbers and do not include unregulated and unreported fisheries.

FAO data for total catches of sharks in metric tons by EU countries in 2004

COUNTRY	Total in 2004	Atlantic Ocean	Indian Ocean	Pacific Ocean	Southern Ocean
Spain	51,071	42,364	4, 969	3, 736	2
France	21,613	21,306			307
UK	16,066	16,033			33
Portugal	12, 765	11, 523	1,242
Ireland	5, 043	5, 043
Belgium	2,505	2, 505
Italy	1, 061	1, 061
Greece	925	925
Estonia	922	922
Germany	859	859
Faeroe Islands	687	687
Netherlands	631	631
Denmark	402	402
Sweden	285	285
Lithuania	101	101
Malta	26	26
Cyprus	13	13
Slovenia	5	5
Poland	1	1
Total	114,981	104,692	6,211	3,736	342

Europe’s market for fins
In 1999, Spain (see above) topped a list of 85 countries supplying unprocessed (salted or frozen) shark fins to the Hong Kong market (the world’s largest). By weight, this was more than a quarter of the market. Other EU countries reporting fin exports to Hong Kong that year included Belgium/Luxembourg, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal and the UK.

The European contribution to Hong Kong’s fin market expanded significantly during the 1990s, from negligible levels up to 27 per cent.  

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