Press Release

12
Nov
2019

Les positions des pays africains seront décisives pour les propositions visant à lutter contre le finning et à interdire la pêche des requins-taupes bleus de l’Atlantique en danger d’extinction

Novembre 2019. Les défenseurs de l’environnement espèrent voir l’Afrique montrer l’exemple à l’occasion d’une réunion internationale sur la pêche qui pourrait changer radicalement l’avenir des requins-taupes bleus en danger d’extinction et contribuer à éviter le finning (c’est-à-dire le prélèvement des ailerons d’un requin et le rejet de sa carcasse à la mer). Lors de cette réunion qui se tiendra du 18 au 25 novembre à Majorque, la Commission internationale pour la conservation des thonidés de l’Atlantique (CICTA) examinera au moins deux propositions relatives à la conservation des requins : la première interdirait la rétention à bord des requins-taupes bleus, victimes d’une forte surpêche comme le montrent de nouvelles recommandations scientifiques préoccupantes, tandis que la seconde imposerait que tous les requins débarqués aient les nageoires encore attachées au reste de la carcasse afin de contrôler plus facilement l’interdiction du finning. Le Sénégal a proposé la première et sera co-auteur de la seconde comme 21 autres Parties à la CICTA.

Continue reading Réunion internationale sur la pêche : le Sénégal défendra les requins

12
Nov
2019

It’s make or break time for shortfin makos as Spain sets to host international fisheries meeting

London, November 2019. Conservationists are focused on the European Union ahead of an international gathering of fishing nations that could make or break the future of Endangered mako sharks. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will consider sobering new scientific advice about the status of shortfin makos at its annual meeting, November 18-25 in Mallorca. To reverse decline of the seriously overfished North Atlantic population, scientists are advising that ICCAT completely ban fishermen from retaining catches. There are no EU or ICCAT fishing quotas for makos. The EU ranks first in the world for mako landings, primarily because of vessels from Spain.

Continue reading EU Holds the Cards for Endangered Atlantic Sharks

12
Nov
2019

Llega la hora de la verdad para el marrajo dientuso mientras España ultima los preparativos para acoger la reunión internacional de pesca de ICCAT

Londres, noviembre 2019. Los conservacionistas centran su atención en la Unión Europea justo antes de una reunión internacional de naciones pesqueras que podría decidir el futuro de las especies amenazadas de marrajo. La Unión Internacional para la Conservación del Atún Atlántico (ICCAT) va a estudiar el preocupante dictamen científico sobre el estado del marrajo dientuso en su reunión anual, que se celebrará del 18 al 25 de noviembre en Palma de Mallorca. Para invertir el declive de la población del Atlántico norte, gravemente sobreexplotada, los científicos recomiendan que ICCAT prohíba totalmente a los pescadores la retención a bordo de las capturas de esta especie. Ni la UE ni ICCAT han introducido cuotas de pesca para el marrajo. La UE ocupa la primera posición mundial en términos de desembarques de marrajo, principalmente por parte de buques de España.

Continue reading La UE tiene en sus manos el futuro de los tiburones amenazados del Atlántico

12
Nov
2019

Moment décisif pour les requins-taupes bleus à l’heure où l’Espagne accueille une réunion internationale sur la pêche

Londres, novembre 2019. Les défenseurs de la nature concentrent leur attention sur l’Union européenne en vue d’une réunion internationale des pays de pêche qui constituera un moment décisif pour l’avenir des requins-taupes bleus en danger d’extinction. La Commission internationale pour la conservation des thonidés de l’Atlantique (CICTA) examinera de nouvelles recommandations scientifiques préoccupantes quant à l’état des requins-taupes bleus lors de sa réunion annuelle qui se tiendra à Majorque du 18 au 25 novembre. Si la communauté internationale veut enrayer le déclin de la population de l’Atlantique nord, aujourd’hui fortement surpêchée, les scientifiques recommandent que la CICTA interdise complètement aux pêcheurs de conserver à bord les requins qu’ils capturent. Ni l’UE ni la CICTA n’ont établi de quotas de pêche pour les requins-taupes bleus. L’UE est pourtant le premier acteur mondial en ce qui concerne le débarquement des requins-taupes bleus, essentiellement du fait des navires espagnols.

Continue reading L’UE détient la clé de la protection de requins en danger d’extinction dans l’Atlantique

12
Nov
2019

É hora do tudo ou nada para os tubarões-anequim no momento em que a Espanha se prepara para receber a reunião internacional das pescas

Londres, novembro, 2019. Os ecologistas têm os olhos postos na União Europeia quando se aproxima a reunião internacional das nações pesqueiras, que pode decidir o futuro dos tubarões-anequim ameaçados de extinção. A Comissão Internacional para a Conservação dos Tunídeos do Atlântico (CICTA) terá em conta novos pareceres científicos alarmantes sobre a situação dos tubarões-anequim na respetiva reunião anual, que terá lugar de 18 a 25 de novembro, em Maiorca. Para inverter o declínio da população do Atlântico Norte, alvo de forte sobrepesca, os cientistas aconselham a CICTA a proibir por completo os pescadores de reter a bordo as capturas.  Não existem quotas pesqueiras da UE ou da CICTA para o tubarão-anequim. A UE é quem regista o maior número de desembarques de anequim a nível mundial, principalmente devido às embarcações espanholas.

Continue reading Tubarões ameaçados do Atlântico nas mãos da UE

12
Nov
2019

Bei der in Spanien stattfindenden internationalen Fischereitagung entscheidet sich die Zukunft des Kurzflossen-Makos

London, November 2019. Im Vorfeld des internationalen Treffens der Fischereinationen, bei dem sich die Zukunft des stark gefährdeten Kurzflossen-Makos entscheiden könnte, richten sich alle Blicke der Umweltschützer auf die Europäische Union. Die Internationale Kommission für die Erhaltung der Thunfischbestände im Atlantik (ICCAT) berät bei ihrem jährlichen Treffen vom 18. bis 25. November auf Mallorca über neue und ernüchternde wissenschaftliche Empfehlungen hinsichtlich des Zustands der Bestände des Kurzflossen-Makos. Um die Dezimierung der stark überfischten Population im Nordatlantik aufzuhalten und umzukehren, haben Wissenschaftler die Empfehlung an die ICCAT gerichtet, ein vollständiges Verbot, Fänge an Bord zu behalten, zu verhängen. Derzeit gibt es weder EU- noch ICCAT-Fangquoten für Makohaie. Gleichzeitig verzeichnet die EU weltweit die meisten Anlandungen von Makohaien, die vor allem auf das Konto spanischer Schiffe gehen.

Continue reading Die Zukunft der stark gefährdeten Haie des Atlantiks liegt jetzt in der Hand der EU

12
Nov
2019

Momento cruciale per il destino degli squali mako alla vigilia della conferenza internazionale sulla pesca in Spagna

Londra, Novembre, 2019. Gli ambientalisti hanno gli occhi puntati sull’Unione Europea a pochi giorni dall’apertura della conferenza internazionale che vedrà riuniti i maggiori paesi che operano nell’industria della pesca e che potrebbe essere decisiva per il futuro degli squali mako a rischio di estinzione. La Commissione Internazionale per la Conservazione dei Tonnidi dell’Atlantico e del Mediterraneo (CICTA) analizzerà le nuove e preoccupanti evidenze scientifiche sulle condizioni reali degli squali mako nel corso della riunione annuale che si terrà a Maiorca dal 18 al 25 novembre. Per fermare il calo della popolazione di squali mako dell’Atlantico settentrionale oggetto di una preoccupante sovrappesca, gli scienziati suggeriscono alla CICTA di imporre ai pescatori il divieto assoluto di tenere le catture. Non esistono quote EU o CICTA per la pesca degli squali mako. L’UE è la prima regione al mondo per numero di sbarchi di squali mako, soprattutto a causa delle imbarcazioni provenienti dalla Spagna.

Continue reading La sopravvivenza degli squali dell’Atlantico nelle mani dell’UE

28
Aug
2019

Makos, Wedgefishes, and Giant Guitarfishes listed under CITES with support from more than 100 countries

Conservation groups are praising today’s confirmation that all species of Wedgefishes, Giant Guitarfishes, and Mako Sharks will be added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The listings mandate that countries track exports as well as high seas take, and demonstrate that internationally traded products from these species are legally sourced from sustainable fisheries.

“Today’s decisions offer promise of a brighter future for these highly threatened shark and ray species, as international trade has been a major factor in depletion of their slow growing populations,” said Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates International, a project of The Ocean Foundation. “CITES listing can help end unsustainable use of Makos, Wedgefishes, and Giant Guitarfishes by prompting improved trade data and much-needed limits on exploitation, while complementing other conservation commitments. As fishing is the main threat to sharks and rays, it’s essential that countries’ CITES representatives work with their national fisheries agency counterparts to ensure that the new obligations are carried out over the coming months.”

Shortfin Makos, exceptionally valuable and vulnerable oceanic sharks, are at risk from targeted and incidental fishing driven by demand for meat and fins. A lack of limits on take is leading to overfishing and a worldwide decreasing trend. Both the Shortfin Mako and the rarer Longfin Mako Shark are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The North Atlantic offers the clearest case of Shortfin Mako overfishing and decline. In 2019, scientists associated with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) reported that North Atlantic Shortfin Mako catches need to be cut by roughly an order of magnitude (~3000 to ~300 tonnes per year) to give the population a decent (60%) chance of recovering within five decades. Taking into account incidental mortality, ICCAT scientists are recommending a complete ban on North Atlantic Shortfin Mako retention.

“Considering that Spain leads the world in Mako Shark landings, we’re encouraged that the European Union co-sponsored the proposal to list Makos under CITES,” said Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust. “We urge the EU to underscore this commitment through proposals to immediately ban North Atlantic Shortfin Mako retention and establish concrete catch limits to ensure Mako landings from all other oceans are sustainable. As virtually all fishing countries are CITES Parties, we’ll be watching for support for such Mako limits at regional fisheries bodies around the world, starting with ICCAT in November.“

Wedgefishes and Giant Guitarfishes, collectively known as Rhino Rays (after their pointy snouts), are considered the world’s most threatened marine fishes. All but one of these 16 shark-like ray species have been classified as Critically Endangered on IUCN Red List.  Their fins are among the most valuable in the global shark fin trade. The coastal fisheries that target or retain Rhino Rays as bycatch are poorly monitored, essentially unregulated, and increasingly intense.

“Rhino Rays are seriously threatened by demand for fins and food, but these extraordinary species have the potential to offer long-term, sustainable benefits as key attractions for ecotourism, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Ian Campbell, Associate Director for Project AWARE. “We are deeply grateful to the many divers who joined us in voicing support for the CITES listings. We now look forward to working with this network and our other partners toward ensuring prompt and full implementation of the international conservation commitments made today.”

Media contact: Patricia Roy email: patricia@communicationsinc.co.uk, Tel: +34 696 905 907

Additional information: www.globalsharksraysinitiative.org/news-publicationswww.sharkleague.orgwww.redlist.org

Download press release here

24
Jun
2019

London. 24 June, 2019.  A new report shows that the overfished North Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark population is continuing to decline and needs not only immediate protection but several decades to recover. Based on new projections for mako populations, scientists associated with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) amplified previous warnings and recommended a North Atlantic ban on retention. Because of depletion to date and an exceptionally low reproductive rate, this population is predicted to continue to decline for another fifteen years before rebuilding can begin.

Continue reading Scientists Issue Grim Status Update on Atlantic Mako Sharks, Recommend Full Ban Conservationists put the spotlight on the EU for inaction and hypocrisy

13
Dec
2018

Conservationists Highlight Shortcomings at Convention on Migratory Species Shark Meetings

Monaco, December 13, 2018. Most countries are not living up to shark and ray protection commitments made under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), according to conservationists. A comprehensive review released today by Shark Advocates International (SAI), Sharks Ahead, documents national and regional actions for 29 shark and ray species listed under CMS from 1999 to 2014.

Continue reading New Report Shows Most Countries Are Falling Short On Commitments To Protect Sharks and Rays