Deep Sea Sharks in Northeast Atlantic Still at Risk from Overexploitation, Warns Group - Oceana
Home / Blog / Deep Sea Sharks in Northeast Atlantic Still at Risk from Overexploitation, Warns Group

October 14, 2014

Deep Sea Sharks in Northeast Atlantic Still at Risk from Overexploitation, Warns Group

BY: Brianna Elliott

 

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), a network of over 4,000 scientists, warn that sharks in deep waters in the Northeast Atlantic continue to face a bleak future. ICES provided recommendations for three deep-sea shark species—kite fin sharks, leafscale gulper sharks, and Portguese dogfish sharks—and advise that these sharks should not be involved in fishery activities. Oceana in Europe believes this advice emphasizes the need for strong precautionary measures to protect these and other deep-sea shark species from overexploitation.

“Heavy fishing drove these vulnerable species to depletion during a period of less than two decades, and there appears to be no evidence of any recovery, even seven years after target fisheries were closed,” Oceana in Europe marine wildlife scientist Dr. Allison Perry said in a press release. “The EU needs to take a very hard and close look at whether it’s doing enough to safeguard deep-sea sharks.”

Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus), a deep-sea shark species pictured off of Italy. (Photo: Oceana)

Deep-sea sharks are particularly vulnerable to over exploitation since they’re slow-growing, long-lived, and have slow reproduction rates. For example, the leafscale gulper shark reaches maturity at 35, and can live for up to 70 years. Despite these risks, some species of deep-sea sharks are heavily fished, especially for their oil-rich livers that are used in cosmetics, health supplements, and vaccines.

Since 2007, targeted fishing of some deep-sea shark species has been prohibited in EU waters because of concerns about population depletion. And since 2012, a list of 20 deep-sea sharks have been prohibited from being included in fishery activities, including bycatch. This list, however, excludes other deep-water shark species that occur in the Northeast Atlantic and are known to be captured in fisheries.

Oceana in Europe works to protect deep-sea species from overfishing, including calling for measures that eliminate bottom trawling and call for stronger protections of deep sea sharks. Click here to learn more.

 

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