The new Fisheries Act, approved late on Tuesday , was hailed by environmental and conservation groups as a win for the preservation of fish habitats and for the shark population. Canada has become the first G20 country to ban the export and import of shark fins, said Josh Laughren, executive director of Oceana Canada, a private conservation group.
He added that Canada is the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia. According to Statistics Canada, 148,241 kg of shark fins were imported in 2018, for a total value of CUS$3.2 million . Shark fins are often used in shark fin soup, a luxury dish traditionally served at Chinese weddings and banquets.
A 2018 Canada government report said that in 2017 35per cent of major fish stocks were healthy, with 14per cent in the cautious zone and 10per cent critical. That represents the lowest number of healthy fish stocks since 2011.