With regard to the news published in a regional media organisation on the illegal dismembering of blue sharks in the Azores, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology, through the Regional Fisheries Inspectorate, wants to clarify the following:
1. The news that was conveyed on social networks yesterday and published today by a regional media organisation dates back to July 2013;
2. Unlike today's news, which states that blue sharks were unloaded at the Horta Port between May 22 and June 15, there were no discharges by Spanish vessels at any regional port;
3. All unloads by Spanish vessels in Azorean ports are monitored by the Regional Fisheries Inspectorate;
4. Since 2013, there has not been any case concerning the removal of shark fins on board Spanish vessels operating in the Region;
5. Spanish vessels unload whole sharks whose fins are partially cut, which is allowed by EU regulations. In order to facilitate the unloading of sharks, the specimens are placed within an elastic fibre belt that maintains the fins near the trunk without being separated.