Shark catch in the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery has increased from 50 tonnes to 300 tonnes in a year t satisfy international demand.
The whaler shark was the species most heavily impacted, with overall commercial catches going from 165 tonnes in 2005/06 to 440 tonnes in 2006/07. Presently there is virtually no information on the NSW shark fishery biology, natural abundances, birth rate, and therefore sustainability, and no catch quota for the commercial NSW shark fishery.
According to the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, within the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, States should ensure that shark catches are sustainable, identify and provide special attention to vulnerable or threatened shark stocks, contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function, and facilitate improved species-specific catch and landings data and monitoring of shark catches.
All information contained in this synopsis is from the NSW conservation website.
Dear Minister Garrett,
Australia is renowned worldwide for its diversity of sharks, with more than 300 different species, half of which can only be found in our country.
Due to the high demand for shark fins internationally, however, this biodiversity is under threat.
Shark catch in the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery has increased from 60 to 300 tonnes in a year to satisfy international demand. At the moment the exploitation status for all sharks fished in NSW (bar the gummy shark) is undefined. Sharks that are targeted include the vulnerable wobbegong, endangered hammerhead, vulnerable mako and near threatened ghost shark according to the World Conservation Union.
The whaler shark was the species most heavily impacted, with overall commercial catches going from 165 tonnes in 2005/06 to 440 tonnes in 2006/07. Presently there is virtually no information on the NSW shark fishery biology, natural abundances, birth rate, and therefore sustainability, and no catch quota for the commercial NSW shark fishery.
According to the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, within the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, States should ensure that shark catches are sustainable, identify and provide special attention to vulnerable or threatened shark stocks, contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function, and facilitate improved species-specific catch and landings data and monitoring of shark catches.
You have the power to protect sharks in NSW, when on June 30 the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery export license expires.
Mr Garrett, we do not want sharks to be killed for their fins. We the undersigned ask you to reject the Ocean Trap and Line Export Approval License on June 30
