MSC Reiterates No Shark Fin Policy

Swiss-based shipping line MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is taking the opportunity to clarify and raise awareness of its zero-tolerance position on shark fin carriage, following a reported shark fin discovery earlier this year, involving a booking by another container carrier.

"MSC is proud to be implementing since several years a complete global ban on consignments of any type of shark fin and of endangered shark," said the global container shipping and a company in a press release.

Sharks are an important part of marine ecosystems around the world and MSC supports regulations and standards imposed by competent authorities to preserve populations of these animals. MSC totally rejects the practice known as “shark finning”, which involves removing and retaining the fins of a shark before returning it to the sea, it said.

Those involved in this abhorrent practice do from time to time try to use container carriers to deliver shark fins to market, said the press release. MSC therefore scrutinizes customer bookings using special key words, customer names and customs codes to try to detect possible attempts to circumvent its ban.

"We believe it is important that carriers work together to limit the abuse of the shipping and logistics sectors by shark fin traders and, where necessary, enhance vessel-sharing agreements to reflect relevant policies and procedures," it said.

MSC is committed to operating a responsible, sustainable business and, together with other global carriers, is a supporter of numerous initiatives driven by environmental associations for the protection of marine wildlife across the world.

In line with the Buckingham Palace Declaration, an initiative of United for Wildlife, MSC encourages a zero-tolerance policy on illegal wildlife trade. The company also continuously improves systems of detection and information-sharing on suspicious activities related to a variety of wildlife and supports customs and other enforcement agencies.

MSC also implements its own ethical initiatives to support wildlife protection, for example, banning the carriage of animal hunting trophies.