Sharks Get a Lifeline through New EU Action Plan Long-awaited European Commission initiative aims to end overfishing, protect endangered species & strengthen finning ban
Brussels 05.02.09: The Shark Alliance is celebrating today’s release of the European Commission’s Plan of Action for the Conservation of Sharks which sets the stage for sweeping improvements in European Union (EU) shark fishing and protection policies. The Plan aims to improve information about shark fisheries, end shark overfishing, pay special attention to threatened shark species, and close loopholes in the EU ban on shark finning (the wasteful practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea). The EU Shark Plan includes actions at national, EU and international levels.
“The release of the long-awaited EU Shark Plan represents a great step forward for the conservation of sharks in European waters and beyond,” said Sonja Fordham, Shark Alliance Policy Director. “The Plan’s commitments to science-based fishing limits, endangered species protection, and a stronger finning ban are essential to securing a brighter future for some of Europe’s most vulnerable and neglected animals.”
EU Fisheries Ministers intend to agree “Council Conclusions” on the Plan at the April Fisheries Council meeting. The European Commission is responsible for developing regulations to tighten existing fishing rules, such as the finning ban and shark catch limits.
“The success of the EU Shark Plan depends on prompt, follow-up proposals from the Commission and cooperation from Member States in ensuring improvements are accepted and enforced,” added Fordham. “We urge all EU Fisheries Ministers to actively support timely implementation of the Shark Plan in line with scientific advice and the precautionary approach.”
ENDS
Contact:
For more information, media interviews or B roll, please contact:
Mona Samari, Tel: +44 (0) 7515 828 939, Email: mona@communicationsinc.co.uk
The Shark Alliance is able to provide spokespeople in languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch and Swedish.
Shark Alliance Position
European Community Plan of Action for the Conservation of Sharks
The Shark Alliance welcomes the final European Community Shark* Plan, pursuant to the International Plan of Action (IPOA) for Sharks. Whereas some of the Plan’s provisions (particularly those on finning) do not fully meet our expectations, overall, we find the document to be comprehensive and sound. If promptly and properly implemented, the Plan has potential to vastly improve EU shark policy and turn the tide for some of Europe’s most vulnerable and neglected animals.
Specifically, the Shark Alliance generally supports the Commission’s objectives for its Shark Plan, which aim to ensure:
* a deeper understanding of sharks & their role in ecosystems & fisheries,
* sustainable directed shark fisheries & properly regulated bycatch, and
* a coherent approach between internal & external Community policies for sharks.
1) We support the Commission’s intention to improve species-specific data on shark catches & trade through:
* enhanced investment in collection of species-specific shark data of 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.
2) We support efforts to assess & mitigate threats to shark populations through:
* 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.
3) We support improving stakeholder consultation & awareness by:
* 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) We support efforts to ensure sustainable shark fisheries & protection for threatened shark species by:
* 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) We support tightening restrictions under the finning ban derogation (that allows at-sea fin removal) by:
* 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.
The Shark Alliance remains concerned about the Commission’s proposal to allow EU Member States in certain cases to adopt ratios higher than 5% dressed weight, as such action – particularly without appropriate control and enforcement – could perpetuate loopholes in the finning ban. 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). We 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.
* Consistent with the IPOA definition, the term “shark” refers to all cartilaginous fishes: sharks, skates, rays & chimaeras.
Notes to Editors:
The Shark Alliance, a coalition of more than 60 conservation, scientific and recreational organizations, was formed in 2006 to promote the development of a sound, science-based EU Shark Plan.
The Shark Alliance was initiated by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life. The objective of Pew’s European Marine Programme is to support the European Union in ending global overfishing and reducing the destruction of the world´s oceans. Pew brings resources, leadership and coordination to the Shark Alliance.
