But China and Japan, both among the world’s biggest consumer markets and exporters of shark fin, refused to green-light the plan, which needed consensus to pass. Though Belize took the unusual step of calling a vote on the matter to bypass the requirement for unanimity Monday, at the end of the eight-day ICCAT meeting, the proposal was shelved.
Sonja Fordham, president of Shark Advocates International who was present for the meeting, told POLITICO she was “deeply, deeply disappointed” the measure failed to pass despite support from an “unprecedented coalition of countries.”
“We are exasperated that a strong, enforceable shark finning ban has once again been blocked by essentially two countries, despite clear scientific advice and overwhelming support from governments and conservationists alike,” Fordham added in a statement.
She blamed “a lack of coordination” among the proposal’s supporters for its failure, saying they seemed “caught off guard” when Belize called for a vote and did not push back against Japan’s objections.
“In 16 years, this was the biggest push [for reform] … and I’m just baffled that the proponents didn’t defend their own proposal,” said Fordham, who also hit out at the meeting’s chair, former EU fisheries official Ernesto Penas Lado, for yielding to Japan and denying a vote.
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