BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Union is taking action to protect sharks by banning the practice of cutting off shark fins, before discarding the mammals back into the ocean to die.

The ruling will force all boats in the European Union Waters and European Union Registered Vessels around the world to land sharks with their fins attached and prove the animal had not be been thrown back without its fin.

Shark fins have high prices in China, where the consumption of fins has risen along with the country’s standard of living.

Toronto banned the sale of shark fins back in October 2011; Brantford, Oakville and Mississauga have also enacted a ban.