Wetpixel

PEW on the enforcement of shark sanctuaries

PEW Environment has published a video highlighting the initiatives that are in place to enforce the laws in the world’s shark sanctuaries. Unfortunately, many of the countries with the strongest legal protections for sharks have the least capacity to enforce their laws. However, during 2012 there have been a number of high-profile seizures of illegal shark fins in Palau and Honduras whilst authorities in the Marshall Islands have successfully prosecuted five shark sanctuary violations in recent months, resulting in total fines of $235,000.