Korean Air will no longer carry shark fins on its cargo flights in a bid to protect the globally endangered species. Previously the airline carried shark fins only under the condition that a valid CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit was fully obtained by the customer from the related national management authority.
Shark fins are one of the rare items that have been traded for high prices in global markets at around US$800 per kilogramme. Shark fishery managers have been slicing of shark fins and leaving them back to the sea to bleed to death. Over 73 million sharks are finned around the world every year.
Korean Air will officially submits its regulation of banning the carriage of shark and related products to Live Animal Regulations (LAR) through International Air Transport Association (IATA) and will continue to participate in various movements to protect the global ecosystem.
