Murky Waters: Inside Congo’s Shark Trade (Video)

Artisanal shark fishing by migrant fishers using “Popo” boats (large motorised boats) has been an important fishery in the coastal port of Pointe-Noire since the early 1980s, driven by extensive demand from East and Southeast Asia for fins. TRAFFIC has released a detailed report and a documentary about the trade in shark meat and fins in the Republic of Congo. It explores the threats of over-exploitation and illegal fishing and the local livelihoods put at risk by illegal commercial fishing by Chinese trawlers. The story is told from a rare perspective with access to shark fishers and traders. The filmmakers, Chris Clark and Shaun Swingler, are both from Cape Town.