The new European Union Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, released by the Commission last week, has met mixed reactions from conservationist NGO’s.
The Oceana organisation expressed “disappointment” that it was not as ambitious as expected, while The Shark Alliance said it represented “a great step forward for the conservation of sharks in European waters and beyond”.
An International Action plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks adopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 1999 called for member nations to produce shark conservation plans for their waters and fishing regions, this in response to growing concern over depletion of the world’s shark populations.
A recent report from Oceana, “From Head to Tail”, outlined the major role the EU plays in the business of shark fisheries/consumption. In 2005, the EU was responsible for 56% of worldwide shark meat imports and 32% of worldwide exports, the report showed. In 2006, EU countries (mainly Spain, Portugal, France and Germany) imported more than 40,000 tons of shark meat.
Sharks are mainly hunted for their fins, however, for the traditional Asian dish of shark fin soup, making fins the most valuable shark product. Three European countries – the Netherlands, France and Spain – were found to be involved in the shark fin trade in 2005. Spain leads participation in the shark fin market, providing approximately 95% of all the fins exported by Europe.
Among the measures Oceana called for, in presenting the report, were establishment of fishing limits for commercially targeted species and prohibitions for endangered species, strengthening of the EU shark finning prohibition and closure of the loopholes in the regulation, as well as minimization of shark by-catch.
After the publication of the plan, however, the organisation admitted it did include some positive aspects, including a shark discard ban and a requirement to land shark fins and bodies at the same time and in the same port, but noted that the adopted plan outlined only an “unclear and gradual implementation timeline”, and lacked “a mechanism to review effectiveness”.
The Shark Alliance, a coalition of NGO’s dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving European fishing policies, struck a more positive note, declaring that the plan “sets the stage for sweeping improvements”.
“The Plan’s commitments to science-based fishing limits, endangered species protection, and a stronger finning ban are essential to securing a brighter future for some of Europe’s most vulnerable and neglected animal”, said Sonja Fordham, the Shark Alliance Policy Director.
In a statement after the Commission’s presentation of the plan, the Czech Presidency underlined its urgency, adding that it would be treated “with the seriousness it deserves“.
“In April we will bring the case before the Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries. We hope to be able to adopt the Council conclusions already at the meeting in April”, said the Czech Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Petr Gandaloviè.