The Deep Blue Disaster

Shark Trust, 2015

No Limits? No Future!

The other day, I posted about the ICAAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) meeting in Malta. As the conference drew to a close, the Shark Trust press release was published. It could not have left a more bitter taste in the mouth if possible, and reading through, it is difficult to not get frustrated: it is a complete disaster. 

The Shark Trust's No Limits? No Future! campaign had a number of very vulnerable sharks, most of which can be found in British waters, at its heart. Particularly featured were:

- The blue shark, for which there are no limits to the number that can be taken in Atlantic waters. Annually, in excess of 10 million are taken for their fins alone (Shark Trust, 2015) 

- The shortfin mako shark. Again, there are no limits to the quantity that can be taken in Atlantic waters. 

- The porbeagle. There was a campaign to ban the retention of the species. 

- The common thresher shark. Proposals to ban capture were made. 

The common thresher and shortfin mako are Vulnerable and the blue shark Near Threatened with extinction. The porbeagle is globally Vulnerable, and Critically Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic (IUCN, 2015). 

What Happened? 

A fifth proposal to clamp down on the finning of sharks at sea- a highly destructive, wasteful method of shark fishing- was also made. Despite the increase in the number of countries (now containing 30 of the 50 countries involved in the ICAAT) showing support for a stronger "fins-free", the move was blocked by Japan, South Korea and China.

Shark Trust, 2015

The article also points out that Japan tried to propose a 32% increase in blue shark takings in the South Atlantic; despite a back-up by the European Union, the call was rejected by the USA and Norway, and so there was no action taken on the species. The EU proposals to clamp down on shortfin mako and common thresher catches were also fought (led by Japan). The only objective where small progress was made was with a small compromise between the EU and Canada (which previously blocked the proposal for the taking of the species) for the porbeagle shark. The compromise was to encourage live release.

If we fail to protect the sharks, and we fail to protect our oceans, then how are we to protect anything? Has anything at all been learned from other man-made extinctions? 

And how would we be able to explain to future generations that we failed to get a grip on the steadily dwindling numbers of top predators?

References

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015) Prionace Glauca Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39381/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Isurus oxyrinchus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39341/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Lamna Nasus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11200/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015;  Lamna Nasus (Northeast Atlantic Population)  Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39343/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Alopias vulpinus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39339/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015

Shark Trust (2015) Blue Shark Available at: http://www.sharktrust.org/en/blue_shark Date accessed: 18th November 2015

Shark Trust: No Limits? No Future! (2015) PRESS RELEASE: Japan Blocks 4 out of 5 Shark Conservation Proposals at Atlantic Tuna Meeting Available at: http://www.nolimitsnofuture.org/press-release-iccat2015/ Date accessed: 18th November 2015