Cathay Pacific bans shipping of shark products

Hong Kong (CNN) — Cathay Pacific, the world’s largest carrier of air cargo, will stop shipping unsustainably sourced shark products in a move marine conservation groups haracterized as a big step forward in efforts to protect the animals.

"We believe that we now have compelling evidence that the majority of shark fishing is incompatible with our position on Sustainable Development," Cathay Pacific said in a statement.

"Due to the vulnerable nature of sharks, their rapidly declining population, and the impacts of overfishing for their parts and products, our carriage of these is inconsistent with our commitment to sustainable development," the airline said.

The ban will apply to Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonair, both major players in the transport of air cargo to Hong Kong and China. Shark’s fin soup remains a popular delicacy for weddings and banquets within China. In order to obtain these fins, fishermen catch sharks, cut off their fins and throw the sharks back into the water to die.

Save Our Seas Foundation congratulates Cathay Pacific on this decision!