Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa recently lifted the ban on the sale of shark fins. During the ban, the sale of shark fins was punishable by up to two years in prison, but under the new laws, fins from sharks caught “accidentally” may be legally traded.

Wetpixel member Mark Harding (writepic) has started a petition protesting this lift on the shark fin ban. In addition to showing the petition on Ecuadorian TV this Friday, Mark will be flying to Ecuador to present the petition in person to President Correa, the Minister for Tourism, and the British and American Ambassadors in Ecuador.

Mark is asking for your help - he has posted a sample letter in the Conservation and the Environment forum, and is requesting that people supporting the ban sign up to add their name to the list - sending an email takes less than a minute and requires only your name and e-mail address.