A commercial fishing company says new rules on harvesting shark fins will help it get on with business and leave the controversial issue behind.
The Government on Thursday announced that the first stage in banning shark finning will start from October.
Under the ban, it will become illegal to catch a shark, kill it, remove its fins and dump the carcass at sea. Killing a shark to sell its flesh will remain legal, and fins from such catches can be sold as a byproduct.
The managing director of Egmont Seafoods in New Plymouth, Keith Mawson says the public has a misconception about the fishing sector and shark fins.
He says 90% of fins that come from the commercial industry in New Zealand are a byproduct of sharks caught for their flesh.
