Oceana has applauded the 22nd Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for establishing new protections for silky sharks.
The new measure requires that all silky sharks caught in ICCAT fisheries, excluding those caught by developing coastal countries for local consumption, must be released.
However, Oceana did voice concern that ICCAT failed to reach consensus on several important shark measures, including those to protect vulnerable porbeagle sharks, establish science-based precautionary catch limits for blue and shortfin mako sharks and improve the current finning measure by requiring that sharks be landed with their fins wholly or partially attached in a natural manner.
While Oceana believes that more should be done to address the 50% decline in Mediterranean swordfish, it commended ICCAT for taking the initial step, including requiring a minimum landing size, a limit on the size and number of hooks and a comprehensive reporting system for gathering sufficient data to adequately assess the stock.
Oceana believes that ICCAT should establish a comprehensive management plan for Mediterranean swordfish that includes: catch limits in accordance with scientific advice; a science-based minimum landing size and technical measures to avoid the catch of juveniles; a coherent system of fishing authorisation and scientifically assessed fleet capacity reduction plans; and a penalties system to ensure reporting of data and that illegal driftnet fishing is terminated.
Oceana also applauded ICCAT for establishing new measures to reduce sea bird bycatch in longline fisheries and improve reporting requirements for bycatch species, including marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks and sea birds.
