Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to
protect the world's oceans, applauded the 22nd Regular
Meeting of the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) today for
establishing new protections for silky sharks, the shark species most
vulnerable to overfishing by Atlantic longline fisheries. The new
measure requires that all silky sharks caught in ICCAT fisheries,
excluding those caught by developing coastal countries for local
consumption, must be released.
"It is a great day for silky sharks," said Elizabeth Griffin Wilson,
senior manager of marine wildlife at Oceana. "ICCAT should be commended
for its continued effort to protect the ocean's top predators. Today's
decision to protect silky sharks is a strong step forward in protecting
one of the most commonly found species in the international shark fin
trade."
Oceana did voice concern that ICCAT failed to reach consensus on several
important shark measures, including those to protect vulnerable
porbeagle sharks, establish science-based precautionary catch limits for
blue and shortfin mako sharks and improve
the current finning measure by requiring that sharks be landed with
their fins wholly or partially attached in a natural manner.
While Oceana believes that more should be done to address the 50%
decline in Mediterranean swordfish, it commended ICCAT for taking the
initial step, including requiring a minimum landing size, a limit on the
size and number of hooks used and a comprehensive reporting system for
gathering sufficient data to adequately assess the stock.
"ICCAT has made a half-hearted attempt to establish measures to protect
overfished Mediterranean swordfish," said Maria Jose Cornax, fisheries
campaign manager for Oceana Europe. "ICCAT should remain committed to
adopting real management measures in the immediate future to recover
Mediterranean swordfish."
Specifically, Oceana believes that ICCAT should establish a comprehensive
management plan for Mediterranean swordfish that includes: 1) catch
limits in accordance with scientific advice; 2) a science-based minimum
landing size and technical measures to avoid the catch of juveniles; 3)
a coherent system of fishing authorization and scientifically assessed
fleet capacity reduction plans; and 4) a penalties system to ensure
reporting of data and that illegal driftnet fishing is terminated.
Oceana also applauded ICCAT for establishing new measures to reduce sea
bird bycatch in longline fisheries and improve reporting requirements
for bycatch species, including marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks.
All 48 fishing countries of the Atlantic Ocean will also be required to
submit data on the species they catch or forfeit their right to fish for
those species the following year until such data is received.
For more information about ICCAT, sharks and swordfish, and for
downloadable images, please visit www.Oceana.org/ICCAT.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to
protect the world's oceans. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.
