We share "Sharkman" Alex Buttigieg's disappointment at the news that the feature film, Sharkwater will not be screened in Malta (Film Wins 26 Awards But Will Not Be Screened In Malta, May 19). We also agree with his assertion that we will start to lose shark species to overexploitation "unless something is done quickly." In Europe , that something may finally be within our grasp. While Sharkwater has exposed illegal shark finning off Costa Rica and Ecuador, few Europeans realise that the EU also plays a lead role in shark depletion. European demand for shark meat drives fisheries around the world, EU fishing vessels target threatened shark species, and the EU finning ban is the weakest in the world.

Hope lies with an EU shark action plan, currently in the works. The plan aims to address shark overfishing and strengthen the finning ban, but key elements face opposition from the fishing industry. Whether they can see Sharkwater on the big screen or not, citizens of Malta can be part of the solution by telling their Fisheries Minister to push for a strong EU shark plan. With its own house in order, the EU will have better footing to improve international shark conservation policies.