Pacific Island nations take lead in shark conservation

Matt Rand - 

On March 8 Governor Eddie Baza Calvo (R-Guam), signed into law a bill banning the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins. A major fishing hub, this U.S. territory now joins a growing chorus of Pacific Ocean voices in support of shark conservation.

The need for these voices is critical. These key predators are vital to the health of marine ecosystems. Tiger sharks, for example, have been linked to maintaining the quality of seagrass beds. Dugongs and green sea turtles, common prey for tiger sharks, often forage in seagrass. With no predator to control this grazing, an important habitat could be over-consumed and possibly lost, endangering all of the species that live in and depend on it.

Many shark populations around the globe are in deep trouble. Worldwide, up to 73 million are killed every year primarily for their fins, which are valued for their use in shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. Huge numbers are also killed inadvertently by fishermen who are not targeting them but are able to sell the fins nonetheless.

Certain types of fishing gear exacerbate this problem. Surface longlines, for example, consist of monofilament lines that extend up to 40 miles and are baited with thousands of hooks. Longlines are primarily used to catch swordfish, tuna and other valuable fish. Unfortunately many other non-target species, including sharks, are caught with this gear and often thrown back in the water dead or dying.

Sharks grow slowly, maturing late and producing few young over their lifetimes. They are exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing and slow to recover from depletion. As a result, 30 percent of the world's species are threatened or near-threatened with extinction. For an additional 47 percent, scientists lack enough data to even properly assess the health of their populations.

Despite the jaw-dropping numbers harvested each year, few countries involved in the shark trade manage their fisheries. In January, an analysis produced by the Pew Environment Group and TRAFFIC found that only 13 of the top 20 shark-catching countries have developed national plans of action to protect these animals--one of the primary recommendations from a 2001 United Nations agreement on sharks.

It remains unclear how those plans have been implemented or if they have been effective.

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