As from the beginning of 2012, Taiwan will become the first Asian nation to implement a ban on shark finning, an initiative moderately applauded by shark conservationists and environmental agencies.

Taiwan fishermen were already barred from tossing sharks back into the water to die after slicing off the fin -- a delicacy in Chinese cuisine -- and are required instead to ship back the carcass.

But the measures have failed to stifle criticism from conservationists who say loopholes in the law allow finning to continue.