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GFCM:SAC13/2011/Dma2
spawning ground for some species being carried out by some countries. Critical habitats
should be identified for conservation porpoises. Otherwise, Sharks are protected in MPAs
along with other marine species but no MPAs established with reference to these species such
as PELAGOS Sanctuary (for cetaceans) and the two MPAs: Larvotto (Ordonnance
Souveraine du 25 avril 1978) and Spélugues (Ordonnance Souveraine du 29 août 1986) in
Monaco.
Marine protected area can be efficient to manage sharks fisheries: (to protect nursery area,
parturition zone….).
Temporary closure of fishing area can be efficient to reduce capture of critical stage of the life
history of the species (new born, pregnant females….). In Tunisia the gulf of Gabès is closed
to trawling fishery from July to Septembre,
III-6 Regulation of shark finning
Shark fins are among the most highly priced fisheries products in eastern Asia and this is
stimulating the targeting of sharks and retention of only their fins, the practice known as
‘finning’.This practise is wasteful of protein and other potential products derived from sharks.
In fact only fins are used, the remainder being thrown away. Finning causes the death of tens
of millions of sharks in the world, directly threatening rare and vulnerable shark species and
indirectly impacting other commercial species due to the effects of removal of top predators
from these food webs.
As fining activities don’t take place generally in Mediterranean countries, there are no
national regulations of shark fining except in Spain. However, Regulation EC n°1185/2003
bans removal of fins followed by discard of the carcass at sea. Finning with retention of
carcasses on board is permitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation. The
theoretical correspondence between the weight of fins retained and the parts of the bodies
retained on board should be established by the Member States but cannot exceed 5% of the
live weight of the shark catch. In Mediterranean, this activity is likely to interest more and
more fishermen.
The ICCAT 2004 regulation and the GFCM 2005 regulation recommend the full utilisation of
sharks (only head, skin and guts may be discarded). Landed fins are not to exceed 5% of
landed shark weight. The live release of incidentally caught sharks is encouraged but not
required.
In Spain, the order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dealing with specific
conditions for the catching of sharks (June 2005), prohibits shark finning (removal of fins and
discarding the carcass at sea). It is prohibited to hold on board, unload, tranship or transport
sharks’ fins without the corresponding weight of the rest of the body. In cases where fins or
the rest of the shark’s body are held on board, transhipped, unloaded or transported
separately, they should be accompanied by a document certifying the placing on the market of
each part, as applicable. Such activity is therefore permitted only under special permit in
accordance with EC Regulation n° 1185/2003.