Featured Stories

23
Nov
2019

ICCAT intervention on blue sharks

The Shark Trust, Ecology Action Centre, The Ocean Foundation, Shark Advocates International, and Defenders of Wildlife thank the European Union for proposing blue shark limits based on the advice of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SRCS). This heavily fished species remains at risk for overfishing due to the lack of basic catch limits by ICCAT and major fishing nations. The existing landing threshold for the North Atlantic is insufficient to ensure that overages are prevented. South Atlantic blue shark fishing is still essentially unregulated. We urge Parties to establish, without further delay, hard catch limits for blue sharks in both oceans, at levels at or below those advised by the SCRS.

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22
Nov
2019

Shark League opening statement at ICCAT

At this week’s hotly anticipated meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Shark League partner groups (Shark Trust, Ecology Action Centre, and Shark Advocates International) are working closely with colleagues from Defenders of Wildlife to urge Parties to adopt science-based safeguards for pelagic sharks. Here is our opening statement.  

Get updates through Monday by following #SharkLeague and #ICCAT2019 on Twitter.

22
Nov
2019

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


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).

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19
Nov
2019

Urge una prohibición inmediata de ICCAT para salvar a las poblaciones amenazadas de marrajo

Colectivos de buceadores y científicos marinos piden a los gestores internacionales de la pesca que actúen para evitar el colapso de la población del Atlántico norte.

Palma de Mallorca, martes, 19 de noviembre – En un esfuerzo conjunto por poner de manifiesto la preocupación pública creciente que existe en relación con el declive de las poblaciones de marrajo dientuso, el grupo conservacionista local Save the Med y la organización mundial sin ánimo de lucro para la conservación marina Project AWARE® están trasladando a los gestores de la pesca las voces de más de 25.000 amantes del océano justo antes de que los gobiernos tengan que tomar decisiones vitales en la reunión de la Comisión Internacional para la Conservación del Atún Atlántico (ICCAT), que se celebrará del 18 al 25 de noviembre en Palma de Mallorca, España.

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19
Nov
2019

Immediate ICCAT Ban Needed to Save Endangered Mako Sharks

Scuba Divers and Marine Scientists Call on International Fisheries Managers to Act Now and Prevent North Atlantic Population Collapse

Palma de Mallorca, Tuesday, 19 November – In a shared effort to highlight growing public concern for declining shortfin mako shark populations, local conservation group, Save the Med, and global marine conservation non-profit, Project AWARE®, are bringing the voices of more than 25,000 concerned ocean enthusiasts from around the world to the attention of fisheries managers ahead of critical decisions taking place at the meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) – 18-25 November – in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

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18
Nov
2019

It’s make or break for Atlantic makos at international tuna meeting this week. The fate of a remarkable shark is in the EU’s hands

Source: Shark Conservation Fund.

Author: Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates International.

European Union (EU) fishing vessels are still landing endangered Atlantic mako sharks, essentially without limit. The international body capable of regulating high seas Atlantic mako catches  considers new restrictions this week. Recovery of this valuable, beleaguered species depends on the EU living up to its conservation commitments, immediately.

Continue reading It’s make or break for Atlantic makos at international tuna meeting this week. The fate of a remarkable shark is in the EU’s hands

18
Nov
2019

Canada Joins Senegal to Champion Mako Shark Protection at International Fisheries Meeting

US and EU counter with proposals that allow continued landings and risk collapse of Endangered population

Mallorca – Canada will join Senegal in a bid to protect the Endangered mako shark. The proposal comes just hours before an international fisheries meeting that could turn the tide for these Endangered sharks that are fished both in Canadian and international waters. At its November 18-25 meeting in Mallorca, the 53 countries of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will consider a proposal to prohibit retention of the seriously overfished shortfin mako shark, based on sobering new scientific advice.

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12
Nov
2019

International Shark Debates put U.S. Positions in Spotlight

Continued leadership at Atlantic fisheries meeting could save Endangered makos and combat finning

Washington, DC. November 12, 2019. Conservationists are looking to the U.S. for leadership ahead of an international fisheries meeting that could turn the tide for Endangered mako sharks and help prevent finning (slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea). At its November 18-25 meeting in Mallorca, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will consider at least two shark conservation proposals: (1) to ban retention of seriously overfished shortfin makos, based on sobering new scientific advice, and (2) to require that all sharks that are allowed to be landed have their fins still attached, to ease finning ban enforcement. The U.S. has led efforts to strengthen the ICCAT finning ban for a decade. Despite recent cutbacks, the U.S. still ranked third among 53 ICCAT Parties in 2018 for North Atlantic shortfin mako landings (taken in recreational and commercial fisheries); the government’s position on a mako ban proposed by Senegal is not yet clear.

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12
Nov
2019

Senegal Set to Champion Shark Conservation at International Fisheries Meeting

Proposals to ban Endangered Atlantic makos and combat finning put African positions in spotlight

November, 2019. Conservationists are looking to Africa for leadership ahead of an international fisheries meeting that could turn the tide for Endangered mako sharks and help prevent finning (slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea). At its November 18-25 meeting in Mallorca, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will consider at least two shark conservation proposals: (1) to prohibit retention of seriously overfished shortfin makos, based on sobering new scientific advice, and (2) to require that all sharks landed have their fins still attached to ease finning ban enforcement. Senegal has proposed the first and is cosponsoring the second with 21 other ICCAT Parties.

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