Hong Kong accounts for 50 per cent of the global shark fin trade. According to the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, cross border trade transportation falls into four categories: “Air”, “Land”, “Ocean”, and “Others.” In recent years, most of the shark fin imported into Hong Kong was via the ocean route, and in 2021, more than 78 per cent of shark fin (by volume) imported into Hong Kong entered using the same route. The influence of shipping companies on shark conservation is undeniable.

Many shark species are threatened with extinction, and more than 100 shark and ray species are now protected by international or national conventions. Added to this is the challenge in identifying efficiently the species of sharks used in shark fin products. As such, differentiating between threatened and non-threatened, and protected and unprotected species of shark presents a significant challenge for carriers and poses several legal and environmental risks. In addition, the general sentiment of societies in favor of shark conservation around the world has improved. If a shipping company continues to generate profits through shark fin carriage, they may attract unwanted public attention and negative sentiment. These Environmental, Legal and Reputational risks may well result in an economic loss for a company.

Learn more: Managing Risk – Global Shipping Companies Say No to Shark Fin

Today, at least 16 global shipping companies have banned shark fin shipments

Table 1. Summary of the shipping companies' no shark fin carriage policies (ranking and adoption of the Policy as of Jan, 2024)


WWF-Hong Kong understands the effective implementation of the no shark fin carriage policy necessitates additional steps. We have therefore created an implementation guideline and a red flag compendium tailor-made for the shipping industry.
 
Learn more: No Shark Fin Carriage Policy Implementation Guidelines
Learn more: The Red Flag Compendium for Wildlife and Timber Trafficking in Containerised Cargo
Learn more: A Review of Shipping Companies' Carriage Policies on International Shark Fin Trade 

© Cat Holloway / WWF


© WWF-Hong Kong


© WWF-Hong Kong


© WWF-Hong Kong

© WWF-Hong Kong

By understanding the high-risk shippers and consignees list, the high-risk trading partners, the high-risk language and wording, shipping companies can create their own high-risk list, which helps prioritize resources to undertake necessary checking.
 
WWF is working with private sector partners and NGOs to develop a proof of concept technology solution to screen bookings and shipping documentation for mis-declared or undeclared wildlife products.


High risk trading partners’ countries/regions
Hong Kong is the important shark fin trading hub. The trends as observed in Hong Kong can be applied globally to help shipping companies tackle this global issue.
 

Learn more: No Shark Fin Carriage Policy Implementation Guidelines



High risk language and wording
English is always the language used for bills of lading. Some shipping companies, however, accept other languages such as Spanish to complete the bills of lading. This presents a challenge to shipping companies to effectively screen commodity descriptions of shark fin in various languages other than English.
 
The following table shows the word “shark” and “shark fin” in different languages. Shipping companies shall be more alerted when they receive relevant shipment requests. 

WWF-Hong Kong has come across cases where "shark" and "shark fin" were not used as commodity descriptions. Instead, shippers or consignees would use the shark species name or the combination of shark common name with "fin", for example “blue fin”, instead of “blue shark fin”

Learn more: No Shark Fin Carriage Policy Implementation Guidelines

An effective implementation guide for shipping companies can help identify suspicious shark fin shipments. This guideline should at a minimum include processes and tools.


Mandate harmonized code on the bill of lading
The World Customs Organization Harmonized System code (WCO HS code) should be on any bills of lading. It is currently not a mandatory requirement.


Provide relevant information to Customs authorities in advance
WWF-Hong Kong urges all shipping companies to minimize the risk of their involvement in the illegal wildlife trade by submitting all relevant documents to Customs through e-channels or other available channels in advance.


Improve the screening system
For companies that banned shark fin shipments, efforts to improve their booking system will help avoid shark fin shipments.

© WWF-Hong Kong

Training of front line staff
Front line staff are the gate keepers for accepting or rejecting shark fin shipments, therefore adequate and frequent training is needed using a well-defined screening process.   


Cooperation with environmental NGOs
Global environmental NGOs such as WWF are well positioned to provide up-to-date information including trade patterns, domestic regulations regarding shark fin and tools to help identify and avoid carrying shark fin shipments.

Learn more: No Shark Fin Carriage Policy Implementation Guidelines
Learn more: The Red Flag Compendium for Wildlife and Timber Trafficking in Containerised Cargo
Learn more: A Review of Shipping Companies' Carriage Policies on International Shark Fin Trade