#RALLY4MAKOS

The decline of North Atlantic shortfin makos is among the clearest and most urgent shark conservation crises in the world. The population is in dangerous decline due to overfishing by multiple countries. Recovery is predicted to take decades, even if catch is minimized right away. Scientists associated with the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) have warned about makos’ inherent vulnerability for more than a decade. Their advice is very clear: a complete ban on retention, without exception, along with additional measures to minimize mortality from incidental catch. ICCAT Parties are considering their mako positions now in preparation for a May 14 proposal deadline and formal negotiations July 6-8. To minimize further damage and enable an effective intersessional ICCAT agreement to protect North Atlantic shortfin makos, Parties (most importantly the EU and US) need to be convinced to:

  • Publicly support (ideally cosponsor) and promote the science-based mako limits championed by Canada, Senegal, and others in previous ICCAT meetings
  • Prepare to adopt a national ban on landings and trade, and
  • Encourage other ICCAT Parties to do the same.

Ask EU Member States to urge the European Commission to stop undermining and start heeding expert advice to ban North Atlantic shortfin mako landings.

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Protecting North Atlantic Shortfin Mako Sharks

How bad is it? The decline of North Atlantic shortfin makos is among the clearest and most urgent shark conservation crises in the world. The population is seriously overfished and headed for collapse. Recovery is predicted to take decades, even if catch is minimized right away.

What needs to be done? Scientists associated with the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) advise a complete ban on retention of North Atlantic shortfin makos, without exception, along with additional measures to minimize mortality from incidental catch.

What’s the situation in a nutshell? North Atlantic shortfin makos are in dangerous decline due to overfishing by multiple countries. Continued landings from the endangered population:

  • Run counter to scientific advice for a non-retention policy “without exception”
  • Create incentive for irresponsible fishing practices that cause stress and ensure mortality, and
  • Further delay a multidecadal recovery.

The North Atlantic shortfin mako retention ban advised by ICCAT scientists:

  • Is based on scenarios that incorporate all sources of mortality, including dead discards
  • Is deemed the most effective way to achieve the substantial reductions necessary
  • Takes into account the species’ relatively high post-release survival, and
  • Is vital to remove incentives to encounter and kill this valuable, threatened species.

How long have countries had to consider this advice? ICCAT scientists have warned about makos’ inherent vulnerability for more than a decade. In 2008, they ranked shortfin makos among the sharks at greatest risk from overfishing in Atlantic longline fisheries. This year marks four years since their first specific recommendation for a North Atlantic retention ban (2017). After reassessing in 2019, they underscored this advice.

What has ICCAT done to protect makos? In 2017, ICCAT adopted a complicated suite of mako fishing restrictions that fell far short of expert advice. In 2019, ICCAT scientists demonstrated that the measures were inadequate to stop overfishing, much less allow recovery, and reissued previous advice. ICCAT has been debating additional steps since that time but has failed to reach an agreement.

What makes this shark population special? Thanks to relatively long-term catch data and regular, increasingly improving international assessments, we know more about North Atlantic shortfin makos than we do about most other oceanic shark populations. Shortfin makos are among the world’s most economically valuable sharks, prized as sport fish as well as food. This species is exceptionally slow growing. Females mature at about age 20. Litters of no more than 18 pups gestate for up to 18 months.

What needs to be done by when? ICCAT Parties are considering their mako positions now in preparation for a May 14 proposal deadline and formal negotiations July 6-8. To minimize further damage and enable an effective intersessional ICCAT agreement to protect North Atlantic shortfin makos, Parties (most importantly the EU and US) need to be convinced to:

  • Publicly support (ideally cosponsor) and promote the science-based mako limits championed by Canada, Senegal, and others in previous ICCAT meetings
  • Prepare to adopt a national ban on landings and trade, and
  • Encourage other ICCAT Parties to do the same.

Ask EU Member States Fisheries and Environment Ministers to take action to reverse the dangerous decline of one of the Atlantic’s most imperiled species: the shortfin mako shark.

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