National Plan of Action for Sharks
National Plan of Action for Sharks
Sharks are vulnerable to over-fishing, and a new national plan of action will strengthen measures to conserve and manage them, Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton says.
The plan was released today.
Actions in the plan of action include:
• Ensuring
fishers know live finning is an offence under the Animal
Welfare Act. A reporting protocol will be established to
ensure that any observed instances of live finning are
reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
(MAF).
• Protecting the basking shark. New Zealand has an obligation to provide protection for this species in New Zealand waters and from New Zealand vessels fishing on the High Seas.
• A new 'prohibited utilisation process standard' that will ban utilisation of some species where no level of utilisation at all is sustainable.
Jim Anderton says the plan is a commitment to achieving shark conservation and sustainable use.
It meets New Zealand's international obligations under the UNFAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-Sharks).
"New Zealand has a world class fisheries management system. Sharks are vulnerable to over fishing and so the plan sets out how we are going to have stronger conservation and management of the 112 shark species found in New Zealand.
"For example, the practice of live finning sharks is disgusting and already illegal. New Zealanders want to make sure it doesn't happen here. The plan sets out how the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the agency responsible for animal welfare, will work together to ensure sharks are not live finned in New Zealand.
For more information on the National Plan of Action for Sharks visit www.fish.govt.nz.
Background
ACTIONS OUTLINED IN THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR SHARKS
Actions to eliminate
live shark finning:
• Ensure fishers are aware that
live finning of sharks constitutes ill-treatment and is an
offence under the Animal Welfare Act
The Ministry of
Fisheries will ensure that the cruelty aspect of live
finning is articulated clearly to fishers operating in
fisheries where shark finning takes place.
• Establish
reporting protocol to enforce the Animal Welfare Act
A
reporting protocol will be established to ensure that any
observed instances of live finning are reported to the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
Actions to
ensure appropriate management of threatened and endangered
species
• Protect Basking Shark
As basking shark is
listed on Appendix 1 of CMS, New Zealand has an obligation
to provide protection for this species in New Zealand waters
and from New Zealand vessels fishing on the High Seas.
•
Develop and implement a prohibited utilisation process
standard
The standard will be used to identify marine
species where no level of utilisation is considered to be
sustainable.
Actions to review shark management
•
Review Schedule Six provisions in relation to spiny
dogfish
The Ministry of Fisheries will review the
Schedule six provisions currently in place for spiny dogfish
to ensure that they are appropriate.
• Review listing
other shark species, or specific life stages of other shark
species, on Schedule Six
The Ministry of Fisheries will
review the use of Schedule six provisions to allow the live
release of additional shark species, or specific life stages
of other shark species.
• Review and revision of
NPOA
A full review and revision of the NPOA-Sharks will
be undertaken.
Actions to improve information
•
Strengthen existing research and monitoring
programme
The strengthened programme will
address:
Stock status and sustainable yields for
exploited shark stocks; effectiveness of conversion factors
in achieving accurate greenweight; monitoring of wastage in
shark fisheries; assessment of measures to promote improved
utilisation; identification of areas of habitat of
particular significance to shark species (e.g. spawning,
pupping and nursery grounds); and review research and
monitoring outputs to assess the effectiveness of shark
management.
• Reduce use of generic shark reporting
codes
Reduce the percentage of the total commercial shark
catch recorded against generic codes to below 1%.
•
Produce a field identification guide
Production of a
draft field identification guide for all QMS and other fish
species (including sharks) commonly caught in commercial and
non-commercial fisheries.
Actions to meet international obligations
• Participate in relevant Regional
Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and other
relevant international fora
Actively participate in the
management and research of shark species which are managed
through RFMOs of which New Zealand is a member; actively
participate in other international fora engaged in the
conservation and management of sharks; and support
initiatives by other organisations/agencies to collect
information on the distribution and abundance of shark
species.
ENDS