FISHERMEN caught more than 300 tonnes of shark meat in NSW last year - five times the usual amount, according to confidential government papers obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

Rapidly rising demand across Asia for for the delicacy shark fin soup is believed to be behind the leap.

A confidential Department of Primary Industries document shows the total shark take in the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery up from 60 tonnes. The DPI wants to set a lower yearly limit, but has failed to agree on a quota of 90 tonnes.

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