Kiribati Seizes Chinese Ship for Illegal Shark Finning

Kiribati detained a Chinese vessel this month for illegally retaining shark fins, a practice banned across the Pacific. Maritime police discovered the fins onboard, leading to the ship's escort to Christmas Island for further investigation.

This incident occurred during a significant surveillance operation from August 3 to August 14, involving 11 Pacific island nations and assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard and an Australian military aircraft. Kiribati, which operates its own patrol boat, boarded the vessel independently, finding it in breach of its license conditions.

The practice of shark finning, which involves removing fins from live sharks and discarding the bodies, has led to significant declines in shark populations. Researchers note that due to its illegality, detecting the practice is challenging, with evidence of illegal trade found across the Pacific.

While demand for shark fin soup has decreased in China, illegal trade persists. In a separate event last November, U.S. authorities aided Peru in seizing approximately 10,000 shark fins destined for China, leading to arrests linked to a transnational criminal network. Wildlife inspectors also discovered 1,400 pounds of dried shark fins in Miami in 2020.