| Short Title: | Shark Fins Act 2003 |
| Type: | Act |
| Parliament: | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Long Title: | An Act to prohibit the import and export of shark fins and to make provision relating to the removal of fins from sharks. |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Citation: | 2023 c. 22 |
| Introduced Commons: | Christina Rees |
| Introduced Lords: | Baroness Jones of Whitchurch |
| Royal Assent: | 29 June 2023 |
| Commencement: | On royal assent and by regulations. |
| Status: | current |
| Legislation History: | https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3207 |
| Original Text: | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/22/contents/enacted |
| Use New Uk-Leg: | yes |
Shark Fins Act 2023 (c. 22) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom designed to ban the import and export of shark fins. Prior to legislation, the practice of shark finning has been banned in the United Kingdom in 2003,[1] and in 2009 the "fins naturally attached (FNA)" policy has been enforced to combat illegal shark finning in UK waters, as well as UK vessels worldwide.
There are 512 species of sharks, 143 are listed as near threatened under the IUCN, with different species ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered sharks.
In 2003, the United Kingdom (then part of the European Union) banned practice of shark finning under Regulation (EC) No. 1185/2003.[2]
In 2009, the "fins naturally attached" policy has been adopted in the United Kingdom, and in the European Union in 2023.[3]