CALLS to protect the world's biggest shark which sails off the North West Coast have been defeated at an international conference.
North West MEP Chris Davies claims the 35-foot basking shark should be listed as an endangered species and be protected by international law.
But delegates from Far Eastern countries including Japan lobbied to prevent the protection measures being put in place at the recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Mr Davies said: "We cannot afford to lose any more species from this planet, let alone the largest animals which swims off our own coast. I will step up the campaign with the aim of winning the vote at the next meeting in three years' time."
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