A Glimmer of Hope for Endangered Sharks – at Last!

Controversial negotiations notwithstanding, the 9th Meeting of the Parties of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, held in Rome, Italy, from 1 – 5 December 2008, is sending a positive signal for sharks. Two species of mako sharks, the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle are now listed in Appendix 2 of the Convention. While this does not mean that they may no longer be caught or marketed, listing does make it clear that the conservation status of these species of cartilaginous fishes is unfavourable and that their conservation requires international cooperation.

Due to the resistance of Latin American countries only for the Northern hemisphere stocks of the highly overexploited spiny dogfish was listed, whereas stocks in the Southern hemisphere remain unprotected for the time being. Once abundant in German waters, this demersal species of cartilaginous fish has become rare in the Baltic and North Seas. Squalus acanthias, which can grow to around one meter and reach a weight of 10 kg, is much in demand in Germany, where its meat is either consumed fresh as “Seeaal” (“sea eel”) or in smoked strips known as “Schillerlocken”, and in Denmark, where it is marketed as “kongeål” (“King eel”). The name of the spiny dogfish derives from its two strong spines with small poison glands, one anterior to each of its dorsal fins.

The porbeagle (Lamna nasus), a very fast and persistent swimmer, is somewhat bigger and grows to 1.5 – 3 meters. As its name in German (“Heringshai”) indicates, herring and mackerel are its primary prey species. In Germany its meat is sold under such imaginative names as Karbonadenfisch (”cutlet fish”), Kalbfisch (“veal fish”) or Seestör (“sea sturgeon”). In the United Kingdom it is used in particular for fish and chips.

Like most species of sharks, the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle have comparatively slow reproductive rates which are similar to those of marine mammals. They live to be relatively old and their litters are small. Their reproductive biology makes them especially vulnerable to pressure from fisheries, which are spelling its doom the world over. In addition to targeted fisheries, many sharks are killed as bycatch in nets intended for other species.

Experts estimate that some 200 million (200,000,000) sharks are being killed each year in the world’s oceans. The result: some 70% of all pelagic sharks have disappeared in the last six years alone, with an even higher rate of 90% for hammerhead sharks. Unquestionably, therefore, the oceans, the world’s greatest ecosystem, now lack an important link at the top of the food chain.

The biggest problem for the conservation of these cartilaginous fish, which look back on a very long evolutionary history, is the continuously huge demand for shark products in Asia. Shark meat is a status symbol. The fins of these chondrichtyans have been considered one of the eight treasures of the sea since the days of the Chinese Qing dynasty (1644-1911). To this day, it is considered highly prestigious to serve shark fin soup on special occasions such as weddings. On average, a normal Chinese wedding costs 40 shark lives. In Asia, it is not yet common knowledge that at least 100 of the approximately 450 species of sharks known today are highly endangered or threatened with extinction. Status is considered far more important than species conservation or sustainable use. And nobody seems to be overly concerned by the fact that by eating their wedding soup, young couples increase their risk of having sick children.

Shark products are literally contaminated by methylated mercury (MeHg) and highly toxic. In seawater, mercury inevitably turns into methylated mercury, which is 1000 times more toxic than mercury. The National Academy of Science estimates that in the US alone 60,000 children are born with neurological disorders due to exposure to MeHg during pregnancy. This is also confirmed by a study commissioned in by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.

Germany also welcomes the result of the recent CMS COP because it plans to work towards including the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle in Appendix II of CITES at that convention’s next COP in 2010. This would be the third attempt to improve control of international trade in products derived from these species by having the species listed in Appendix II.
Petra Deimer/Rüdiger Strempel (translation)