A petition against trading in shark and rays' fins in Europe has reached more than a million signatures, forcing the European Commission to investigate the issue, the EU said Wednesday.

The "Stop Finning - Stop the Trade" campaigners call on the European Union to end the trade in the bloc "including the import, export and transit of fins other than if naturally attached to the animal's body".

The petition organisers said the EU is among the biggest exporters of fins and a major transit hub for the global fin trade despite a ban since 2013 on the removal of fins on board EU vessels and in EU waters.

Sharks must also arrive with their fins naturally attached, according to EU rules.

The petition is a European Citizens' Initiative, a mechanism enabling residents to force the commission to look into a matter once a million signatures have been collected from at least seven member states.

The commission can then suggest legislation, take other measures or opt not to act at all. It must offer an official response by July 11, 2023 on the fin trade petition.

The petition, launched in early 2020 with the support of marine life protection campaigners Sea Shepherd, had 1,119,996 signatures Wednesday, the commission said.

Most of the signatures -- almost half a million -- came from Germany.

Previously successful initiatives included the protection of bees and against the caging of farm animals.

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