Conservationists have reason for cautious optimism: the European Union's shark fin trade is shrinking. New data from Eurostat shows that exports from the bloc fell by 15% between 2024 and 2025, a decline driven largely by tighter international regulations. Yet the trade remains substantial, with member states selling nearly 3,000 tonnes of shark fins outside the EU last year, valued at around €45 billion.
The overwhelming majority of these fins—97%—come from blue sharks, which are caught and frozen for export. The remainder are from shortfin mako sharks. Blue sharks are not currently listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), though the convention recently expanded its protected list to include 60 additional shark species. The stricter rules have increased inspection and traceability requirements for producers, contributing to the export decline.
Spain Dominates EU Exports
Spain is by far the largest exporter of shark fins in the EU, according to a study by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) covering 2003 to 2020. During that period, Spain exported at least 52,000 tonnes of shark fins outside the bloc. Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Italy follow, though with much smaller volumes.
The vast majority of EU exports go to Singapore and mainland China, each accounting for roughly 40% of the total. Hong Kong receives 13%, Japan 2.5%, and Vietnam 1%. Meanwhile, the EU imports only about 20 tonnes of shark fins annually, worth €0.3 million—a fraction of its export volume.
The trade remains highly controversial due to its ecological impact. Sharks are apex predators that help maintain healthy marine ecosystems, and their removal can destabilize ocean food webs. The practice of finning—slicing off a shark's fins while the animal is still alive and discarding the body at sea—is already illegal in the EU. Under the bloc's "Fins Naturally Attached" policy, sharks must be brought to shore with their fins fully attached. However, enforcement remains a challenge, and critics argue that the trade itself encourages illegal finning elsewhere.
Brussels is now considering a total ban on shark fin imports and exports, a move that would align the EU with growing global conservation efforts. The European Commission has signaled that it is reviewing the policy, though no formal proposal has been tabled yet. Any ban would require approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, where member states have diverging interests—particularly Spain, whose fishing industry relies heavily on blue shark catches.
The debate comes amid broader tensions over EU trade policy, as seen in recent clashes over trade bans on Israeli settlements and tests of bloc unity. While those disputes involve geopolitics, the shark fin issue is primarily environmental, but it also touches on economic interests in southern European ports like Vigo, Setúbal, and Concarneau.
Conservation groups argue that a total ban would send a strong signal and help protect vulnerable shark populations. The EU has already taken steps to curb overfishing, including quotas for blue sharks and mako sharks. But with demand for fins persisting in Asian markets, enforcement of existing rules remains difficult. The decline in exports suggests that stricter regulations are having an effect, but advocates say more is needed.
As Brussels mulls its next move, the data from Eurostat offers a snapshot of a trade in transition. Whether the trend continues depends on political will in the European Parliament and the Council, as well as the ability of member states to balance conservation with the livelihoods of fishing communities.
