Shark CPOA overview

For over ten years, shark conservation groups have been lobbying the European Commission (EC) to devise a coherent approach to shark management; finally, last year they agreed to develop a Community Plan of Action (CPOA) for sharks which was adopted by the fisheries ministers in April 2009.

Referring to the proposed Plan Of Action, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said, “We know that some shark populations in Scotland are critically endangered. As one of Europe’s most important fishing nations, we welcome the decision to prioritise this Shark Action Plan to ensure that sharks are given adequate protection. In Scotland we are working closely with the industry and NGOs, and we look forward to working with the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network to develop robust, workable procedures.”

The CPOA covers all cartilaginous fish – not only sharks, but also skates, rays and chimaeras and intends to provide a comprehensive framework for change, encouraging science based catch limits AND the protection of endangered species.

Sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because :

they grow slowly, mature late and produce few young
one-third of assessed species are classified by IUCN as threatened with extinction.
EU limits on shark fishing are either nonexistent or lenient and bycatch levels are significant
serious gaps remain in our understanding of sharks & their role in ecosystems

The CPOA represents a significant step in the right direction for shark conservation and sustainable management, but it will only be effective if Member States act with a sense of urgency.

The CPOA proposes five fields of action to

IMPROVE SPECIES-SPECIFIC DATA ON SHARK CATCHES

enhanced investment in collection of species-specific data for shark landings, processing & marketing,
increased at-sea observer coverage on vessels taking sharks,
monitoring & assessment of recreational shark fishing mortality,
recording of landings & trade of sharks separately by commodity and to the species level where possible, and
promotion of Regional Plans of Action and reporting of related progress at the January 2010 meeting of CITES.

ASSESS AND MITIGATE THREATS TO SHARK POPULATIONS

species-specific evaluation & monitoring of shark population status,
fishing strategies based on principles for sustainability & long-term use of shark populations, and
development of shark fisheries science expertise at the national level.

IMPROVE STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND AWARENESS

educating fishermen & the public about shark conservation programmes & restrictions,
consulting the Regional Advisory Councils regarding best practices for management & bycatch reduction, and
encouraging Member States to allow greater public access to shark fisheries information.

4) ENSURE SUSTAINABLE SHARK FISHERIES AND PROTECTION

matching fishing effort to available resources,
setting limits on shark catch according to scientific advice,
improving gear selectivity for reduced bycatch of sharks,
developing bycatch reduction programmes for Endangered & Critically Endangered shark species,
establishing time/area closures to protect shark pupping & nursery areas,
further restricting or prohibiting fishing in critical habitats of Endangered sharks,
promoting compatible shark fishing restrictions at Regional Fisheries Management Organizations,
banning discard of dead sharks, provided sale of species for which fisheries are closed is strictly forbidden,
granting exceptions to the discard ban for live, “unwanted” sharks, and
using wildlife agreements, particularly CITES & CMS, to control shark fishing & trade.

5) TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE FINNING BAN DEROGATION

requiring the landing of shark fins & carcasses at the same time, in the same port,
reducing the fin to carcass ratio from 5% whole weight to 5% of dressed weight, and
making the process of justifying the need to remove fins at sea more rigorous.

SSACN continue to call for the complete elimination of the finning ban derogation & special fishing permits that allow fins to be removed on board vessels at sea as we believe the most reliable means to prohibit finning is to require that sharks be landed with fins attached (which the Commission confirms is the general rule).

If you catch a tagged fish

Please leave the tag in the fish.

Note the telephone number or address on the tag and write down the number of the tag. If you have a suitable sling and scales then take the measurements and weigh the fish.

Please keep the fish in water as much as possible.

And don’t forget Log the data here.

Shark papers by Lauren Smith

On the BBC & ITV

and Gordon Goldie gives an interview here on ITV.

During Sharkatag 2010 the CBBC / BBC Newsround programme did a item with Kiera Merrifield and Bradley Burrett – see it at CBBC / BBC website

The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network

The SSTP is part of the the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network, an independent Charity registered in Scotland which was created to focus on conservation issues in the marine environment and in particular those affecting sea anglers.