E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
enhance management of non-ICCAT fisheries which catches sharks, in accordance with paragraph 2 of
Article XI.
5. The concerns mentioned above seem to imply the importance of achieving the effective management of shark
species. In this regard, Japan deems it necessary to create a clear common understanding among ICCAT
members as to the concerns above, particularly, as to what kinds of fisheries to be covered by ICCAT.
6. From this viewpoint, Japan would like to propose an action plan as a more realistic step to enhance
conservation and management of sharks, which consists of short-term and long-term actions since it is still
likely to take more time among ICCAT members to share the common understanding on this issue.
7. The short-term actions are basically to enhance data and information collection on kinds of sharks taken,
kinds of fisheries in question, and any relevant regulations, if any, being applied by each CPC on sharks. This
will set up a good basis for further discussion on establishing effective measures on the conservation and
management of sharks under the ICCAT. The long-term action then would be the study of how the current
mechanism should be modified, so that sharks will be listed as species to be managed by ICCAT. This means
that sharks will be managed as not only bycatch species but also target species.
8. Accordingly, Japan would like to present a draft recommendation on shark action plan which reflect the
above ideas. We hope that this paper will deepen the discussion on this issue at the Working Group.
Draft Recommendation by ICCAT on a Shark Action Plan
( Submitted by Japan)
RECALLING that the Commission has adopted many conservation and management measures on sharks
in accordance with ecosystem approaches, with reference to the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
and U.N. Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,
FURTHER RECALLING that there is no definition of ICCAT fisheries which has been often used in the
ICCAT Recommendations on sharks,
RECOGNIZING that there are several regional fisheries management organizations which have the
purview to manage sharks in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean,
RECOGNIZING that all fisheries catching, whether intentionally or not, sharks should be properly
managed in order to achieve sustainable utilization of the shark species, taking into account of relevant
international instruments such as UNCLOS,
FURTHER RECOGNIZING that in the Article XI (2) of the ICCAT Convention, there should be
cooperation between the Commission and other international fisheries commission, and scientific organizations
which might contribute to the work of the Commission,
I. Short-term action
Information and data collection
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMSSION FOR THE CONSERVATION
OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT) RECOMMENDS THAT:
1. For the sake of collecting data of kinds of sharks taken and fisheries in question, each CPC shall submit all
available data related to sharks (oceanic sharks provided in Annex I of UNCLOS, porbeagle sharks and
crocodile sharks (hereinafter referred to as “sharks”)) caught in the ICCAT Convention area by both ICCAT
and non-ICCAT fisheries, including but not limited to, fisheries targeting tuna and tuna-like species, fisheries
targeting sharks, artisanal fishery, sport and recreational fisheries (hereinafter referred to as “the shark
associated fisheries”) to the Secretariat by June 2013. For this submission, latest data shall be considered by
CPCs. The data to be provided shall include at least the following information:
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