9 Aug 2012

Ban on export of shark fins wanted

4:45 am on 9 August 2012

The Green Party in Australia has called for a ban on the export of shark fins after a grey nurse shark was found washed up with its fins sliced off.

New South Wales state MP Kate Furman says the shark was alive at Evans Head last week. It died a short time later.

Ms Faehrmann says the state government must step up coastal monitoring to protect the critically endangered species.

She said there aren't enough fisheries officers and illegal "live shark finning" for Asian cooking should also be discouraged.