Environmental groups in French Polynesia say they have lodged a complaint about a Spanish-flagged ship, which they say carried sharks in defiance of a ban on such transport.
The groups' umbrella organisation Te Ora Naho said the Playa Zahara docked in Papeete with several tons of shark meat for transfer to another Spanish boat.
As sharks in French Polynesia are protected and both their possession and transport in the territory are prohibited, Te Ora Naho has urged the authorities to enforce the rules.
The environment ministry told Tahiti Nui TV that surveillance of the ships showed the sharks were caught in the territory's waters and because of that, the vessel is considerd private property which cannot be searched.
Shen Gang Shun 1 stuck on reef of Arutua Photo: supplied
Te Ora Naho said last year it lodged a complaint about another Spanish vessel for carrying shark fins and teeth.
It also complained about a Chinese ship, Shen Gang Shun 1, which ran aground on the reef of Arutua atoll with frozen sharks stitched up with cut-off fins inside in its hold.
In July, the Playa Zahara was in New Zealand waters when most of its crew tested positive for Covid-19.