Bleeding the Oceans Dry - WildAid

C o n s e r v a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f s h a r k p o p u l a t i o n s© WildAidpledged in early 2009 to strengthenthe EU finning ban by reducing theallowable fin to body ratio by whichappropriate proportions of shark partson board are measured. A monthlater, however, the EU attempted toweaken the Indian Ocean finning banby replacing the ratio with untestedmethods involving placing severed finsin plastic bags — a complete departurefrom their brand new shark plan.It is clear that, whereas Asia is thesource for the demand for shark fins aswell as much opposition to shark fishingand trade limits, Asian countries donot bear the responsibility for the plightof sharks alone. For example, theEU is the source of the bulk of sharkfins in trade as well as a persistentdemand for shark meat, and yet, EUshark management is notoriouslyweak. Despite scientists’ conclusionsthat the Northwest Atlantic porbeagleshark population needs 100 years torecover and that landings from theeven more seriously depleted NortheastAtlantic population should not beallowed, targeted porbeagle fisheriescontinue legally in Canada andFrance. New Zealand and Canadawere leaders in the fight to defeat theEU’s 2007 proposals to list porbeagleand spiny dogfish under CITES andNew Zealand still allows shark finningunder certain circumstances.As demand for shark productsgrows in the absence of management,so does the number of shark andray species categorized by IUCN asThreatened with extinction. Currently,IUCN classifies 21% of 591 assessedshark, ray and chimaera speciesas Threatened (in the Vulnerable,Endangered or Critically Endangeredcategories of the IUCN Red List).Only one quarter of these species areconsidered to be of Least Concern.Data are insufficient to determine theconservation status of another 35%.While data on shark catchesare generally lacking and manymysteries of sharks’ habits remain,there is plenty we do know aboutsharks and much of it is cause forconcern. Scientists regularly stressthat the tendency of most sharks togrow slowly and produce few youngleaves them especially vulnerableto overfishing. Experts also tell usthat most sharks serve as importantpredators and that losing them islikely to have cascading, negativeeffects on marine ecosystems.These factors helped provide theimpetus for the development of theShark IPOA and yet the managementpriority assigned to sharks — at local,national and international levels— remains very low. The need forserious recommitment to the SharkIPOA and related shark conservationinitiatives has never been more urgent.To turn the tide, countries must workunilaterally and collaboratively toimprove shark data collection, limitshark fishing, protect particularlyvulnerable shark species, strengthenfinning bans, and develop plans ofaction for long-term conservation.Shark conservationists havehad substantial success in the lastfifteen years, and yet, progress inmost cases is still being outpaced byrising commercial interest in sharkproducts and rapid depletion ofshark populations. Public concernfor the welfare of sharks has growndramatically in this time, but is not yetreflected in today’s inadequate sharkfishing policies. We must immediatelystep up our efforts if we are to ensuresustainable shark fisheries, rebuilddepleted populations, and save someshark species from extinction. Peoplemust not only change the way theythink about sharks but also care enoughabout their survival to act on theirbehalf. Vocal, informed and persistentcitizens demanding more for sharksfrom their policymakers offer the besthope for securing a brighter future forthese valuable yet vulnerable animals.Sonja Fordham is the Policy Director forthe Shark Alliance.b l e e d i n g t h e o c e a n s d r y 2 5