World's Largest! Brazil Thwarts Delivery Of 28.7 Metric Tons Of Illegal Shark Cylinders

Shark fin illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Clonofsnake)

JAKARTA - Brazilian authorities announced earlier this week that successfully thwarting the shipment of 28.7 metric tons of illegal shark fins to be exported to Asia, becoming the world's largest seizure of its home country.

The Ibama environmental protection agency estimates that the fins are thought to have come from about 10 thousand sharks of two different types, namely blue sharks and short-fin mako sharks, which were on Brazil's endangered species list last month.

"This arrest is in an integrated manner the largest ever recorded in the world, especially as it is an arrest at the source where the sharks were caught," Ibama said in a statement.

Operation Ibama targeted two different companies, but others are still under investigation, said the agency's head of environmental protection, Jair Schmitt.

"This practice has often happened in Brazil. A few years ago, we found about seven or eight metric tons of sharks, which were seized in Para state, with the same screening method," he said, referring to the method of slicing shark fins and throwing the rest into the sea.

The Brazilian government under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva prioritizes fighting against the destruction of flora and fauna, after previous government under Jair Bolsonaro, weakened environmental bodies and surveillance forces.

"This action is very symbolic because it symbolizes Ibama's return to protecting the marine environment and especially protecting against illegal fishing trade in this country," explained Schmitt.

An exporting company in the southern state of Santa Catarina is responsible for 27.6 metric tons of fish fins, while the rest is confiscated at Sao Paulo International Airport from a second company, Ibama said, without naming the company or the person involved.

Separately, Sea Shepherd, a non-profit marine conservation organization, called on the Brazilian government to ban shark fins and import shark meat from Brazil, saying this was very important to protect the species.

It is known that shark catching is illegal in Brazil. However, Ibama said the ships used permits to capture other fish species.

He added that they caused the death of thousands of seabirds when they caught sharks, including some belonging to endangered species.