In 2001 response to an unauthorized and uncontrolled increase in shark fishing along Congo’s coastline, fishing regulators decided to completely ban shark fishing. Shark fins were, and still are, highly prized commodities in Asian markets, and shark fishing became a lucrative business for Congolese trawlers and professional small-scale fishermen. Upon the establishment of this ban, Fisheries Minister Henri Djombo informed fishermen that there would be severe fines for anyone ignoring the ban, but enforcement in the area is notoriously poor.
