Traditionally, sharks were considered as bycatch in fisheries for highly migratory species like tuna and swordfish. That has changed. Pelagic sharks are now the targeted species of the European Union surface longline fleets. Spain possesses, by far, the biggest European longline fleet. The Spanish longliners’ catch in the Atlantic Ocean consists of more than 67 … Read more
In 2006 and 2007, Oceana researchers carried out a year-long investigation into European Union shark fisheries and trade of shark products (meat and liver oil fins) around the world. These investigations are part of a major campaign to conserve sharks, threatened animals that are crucial to maintaining the health and stability of ocean ecosystems. As … Read more
European fisheries have traditionally exploited many small bottom-living coastal sharks and rays, and have recently increased their exploitation of pelagic and deep-water sharks.For stock assessments that rely on catch data, it is essential to quantify the total removals of the stocks of concern. Oceana would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on … Read more
Sharks have been fished for hundreds of years, some records even date back to ancient Roman times. But it has only been in the last few decades when the volume of shark catches increased exponentially. Sharks are now targeted by both highly industrialised fishing fleets and artisanal fisheries. Sharks are mainly hunted for their fins … Read more
Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation organization, applauded the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species’ (CITES) decision to protect porbeagle sharks threatened by the international trade of their meat during the 15th Conference of the Parties. However, Oceana called today a disaster for the seven other shark species (oceanic whitetip, dusky, sandbar, spiny … Read more
Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation organization, released the following statement from marine scientist and fisheries campaign manager Elizabeth Griffin today following the decision to not include scalloped hammerhead sharks in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This proposal also included great and smooth hammerheads as well as … Read more
Up to 10 million kg of shark fins (equivalent to the weight of more than 2,000 adult African Elephants) are exported annually to Hong Kong by nearly 87 countries, cites a new report The International Trade of Shark Fins: Endangering Shark Populations Worldwide released today by Oceana, the world’s largest conservation organization focused solely on … Read more
Oceana released this report during the 2010 CITES Conference of the Parties in Doha, Qatar. The harvest for international fin trade is one of the greatest threats to the shark species proposed for inclusion in CITES Appendix II. If gone unchecked, the high demand for shark fins will undoubtedly lead to further declines in the populations … Read more
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted Friday to stop issuing commercial fishing permits for drift gillnet gear used to target swordfish and thresher sharks in waters off the Oregon coast. These expansive driftnets are known to ensnare and drown dolphins, sea lions, endangered sea turtles and other animals. Friday’s decision means that the State … Read more
A international panel of independent fisheries experts convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today found that new trade protections are warranted for five threatened shark species – oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, and scalloped, great and smooth hammerheads. In October, the United States (co-sponsored by Palau) and the European Union submitted proposals … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.