An Oceana Position Paper

The European Union Plan of Action on the Conservation and Management of Sharks

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Oceana’s European shark conservation campaign aims to achieve protection of

sharks through specific European Union (EU) legislation and fisheries management regulations. Such legislation and regulations will apply to EU fishing fleets both in EU waters and on the high seas, and to non-EU vessels in EU waters.

Although it is widely known that sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to their late age at maturity and low fecundity, they have been increasingly exploited in recent decades, both as by-catch and as unofficial targeted catch. A total of nearly 1,200 shark and related ray species live in the worlds’ oceans, and approximately 140 are found in European waters. However, very few are actually protected.

Sharks and rays in the EC regulation on fishing opportunities for 2009

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Sharks: Oceana wants RFMO parties in San Sebastian to commit to concrete actions. June 2009

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If we save the sharks, we save the oceans.