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While many ocean conservation issues come and go from public consciousness, the plight of the Atlantic mako shark population remains at the heart of an ongoing campaign by recreational divers to end the unsustainable exploitation of this species.

Continue reading Divers Still Making Time for Makos

The new ban on shortfin mako landings from high seas North Atlantic fisheries coincides with similar prohibitions just imposed by Spain. The combined actions of these two fishing powers could just turn the tide for this endangered population.

The Shark League is congratulating the Portuguese government for taking action to protect one of the world’s most valuable and threatened shark species, the shortfin mako. A new moratorium on landing applies to shortfin makos caught in North Atlantic high seas fisheries, the source of most of Portugal’s mako catch. News of the ban comes just as even broader mako protections by Spain are coming to light. Because these two countries are responsible for ~65% of the total landings of North Atlantic makos, their combined actions have great potential to stem serious overfishing and save this particularly depleted population from collapse.

Continue reading Shark League Applauds Portugal for Long-Awaited Mako Protection

COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, including how we communicate, meet and make decisions, yet despite this fishing – and overfishing – continues and so must make efforts to protect shortfin mako sharks and other threatened species.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) won’t be meeting in person this year, but decisions can – and must – still be made. Ahead of ICCAT parties embarking on their 2020 deliberations, the Shark League with our partners brought together supporters with scientists, conservationists and officials in two key regions to update on progress and plan for the next months when ICCAT has another chance to follow the science and prohibit mako catch in the North Atlantic.

Continue reading Making Time for Makos with Partners and Supporters Around the World

Author: Ian Campbell, Project AWARE, Associate Director Policy and Campaigns.

This year  has certainly been a busy one for those of us in the world of shark conservation, especially when it comes to the two fastest shark species, shortfin and longfin makos. In March, the IUCN reclassified both species from Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List, highlighting the urgent need for protection. For much of 2019, shark conservationists focused on securing international trade controls for makos through listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the Conference of Parties (CoP) in August. Multiple organisations, including our Shark League partners, helped highlight the precarious status of mako sharks and win CITES Appendix II listing for the species. Starting by the end of November, all mako exports must be accompanied by a special permit granted upon demonstration that the products were legally and sustainably sourced.. With this global safeguard secured, our attention turned towards protecting makos where they are most at risk: the North Atlantic. Fisheries taking makos from this ocean are managed by the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Continue reading Make Or Break Time for Makos: Bridging the Gap Between Community-Led Actions and Policy Change