Shark meat OFF my plate!
To the Commissioners for Health and Food Safety (Stella Kyriakides), Environment, Oceans and Fisheries (Virginijus Sinkevičius), and Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (Mariya Gabriel).
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Petition
We urge you to take action to protect our health, oceans, and future from the dangers of the shark meat trade by:
- Ban Shark Meat in Public Institutions: Prohibit shark meat in public facilities, including schools and hospitals.
- Clear Labelling: Require shark meat packaging to specify it is shark meat, include the species, and indicate its origin.
- Tighter Mercury Limits: Lower allowable mercury levels in shark meat from 1 ppm to 0.5 ppm, matching other marine species.
- Education and Awareness: Launch programs in schools and community centres to promote shark conservation awareness.
- Combat Illegal Trade: Strengthen enforcement to stop illegal shark meat trade, prioritizing Mediterranean and Atlantic conservation.
- Phase Out Shark Meat Trade: Gradually end shark meat trade by informing the public of health and environmental risks and urging Member States to cease support for this practice.
Why is this important?
Do we really know what we’re eating?
In Europe, the consumption of shark meat is more common than many people realize. Many remain unaware that terms like “flake” or “dogfish” refer to sharks, and inadequate or unclear labelling of these products exacerbates the issue.
Knowing that around 100 million sharks are fished every year - which means close to 200 sharks per minute - [1] it doesn’t come as a surprise that overfishing has caused some shark populations to decline by over 95%, with 36% of the more than 1,200 known species of sharks and rays now at risk of extinction. [2]
However, the trade of their meat is not only contributing to the degradation of marine ecosystems but also threatening human health.
Shark meat consumption poses significant risks to human health due to high mercury levels, which can be especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. [3]
Despite these risks, shark meat continues to be sold and consumed across Europe, even in public institutions like schools and hospitals.
A European country has already stepped forward: Austria was the first to ban all shark products! [4] It is now time for the rest of the EU to follow the lead.
Raising public awareness about this issue is crucial. Clear and accurate labelling of shark products, coupled with policies that prohibit shark meat in public centres, can help protect our health and the health of our oceans.
Let’s act to safeguard the most vulnerable—both in the seas and on land.
Sign now to protect our health and our planet!