Hundreds of kilos of shark fins from Ecuador seized in Panama

Photo: Panama America

Last Friday, customs authorities at Panama's Tocumen International Airport seized 421 kilos of hammerhead shark fins, originating from Ecuador and in transit through Panama bound for Brooklyn. These were detected in the cargo section of the airport.

Gloria Moreno de López, national director of customs, explained that the illegal shipment was detected by customs inspectors who reviewed the content of a guide that indicated a shipment of dried fish, but what was actually being transported were shark fins. The guide found indicates that the shipment came from Ecuador.

“This is a real crime,” said the official, noting that the hammerhead shark is a protected species, as it is in danger of extinction. “These are hammerhead shark fins,” she said.

The fins were packed in 14 packages and are currently in the custody of the Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP).

One of the main threats to sharks is the practice of “finning,” which consists of cutting off the fins and throwing the rest of the animal into the sea. Scientists and environmentalists say that this practice causes a great marine imbalance, since the shark is a fundamental part of the marine food chain and is considered an ecological crime.