Save bigeye thresher, little shark conservation at ICCAT

The 21st Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was held in Recife, Brazil from 6-15 November 2009. The ten-day meeting concluded with one measure adopted for the conservation of sharks. While this measure banned retention and landing of any bigeye thresher sharks, a catch exemption of 110 threshers was given to Mexico.

Find out more

___________________________________________________________

EU slashes fishing quotas

In December, the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers decided to end all fishing for porbeagle sharks and reduce fishing quotas for spurdog by 90%, in accordance to scientific advice and proposals from the European Commission. This decision came just three months before Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) would debate the EU proposals to limit trade for spurdog and porbeagle. 

 Find out more 
________________________________________________________

Over 90,000 citizens urge Spain to change course on shark finning rules

In January, representatives of the Shark Alliance delivered to Spanish authorities a petition signed by over 93,000 citizens from 16 European countries urging Spain to support improving the EU ban on finning and lead the EU toward a more effective finning regulation.

For many years, Spain has ranked first in Europe for shark catches and has worked to obstruct the adoption of tighter rules on shark finning. The widely supported 2009 European Community Plan of Action for Sharks includes a pledge to strengthen the EU finning regulation. Holding the EU Presidency until July 2010, Spain is likely to preside over deliberations concerning these changes. 

Find out more 
___________________________________________________________

European Shark Week 2010: Focus on finning

During European Shark Week 2009, over 300 activities were held in 15 European countries. Through these events, more than 93,000 people signed the petition urging Spain to end its opposition to improving the EU shark finning ban.

This year we need to keep the pressure on.

More than three years ago, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) called on the European Commission to strengthen the EU finning ban, which is currently fraught with loopholes and puts sharks at risk. Next year, the European Parliament will be asked to vote on a new regulation that the Commission members are drafting and will be issuing for consultation soon.

We need to ensure that MEPs, as our elected representatives, continue to press for what they called for more than three years ago and help close the loopholes.

The Shark Alliance will be working with MEPs to ensure their support and this October we want them to hear many other voices as well.

Save the 9-17 October in your diaries for European Shark Week 2010. Watch for more information on plans, ideas, materials and a call to action.

 Find out more
___________________________________________________________

Sharks denied CITES protection

In March, during the final Plenary session in Doha, Qatar, Parties to the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted narrowly to reverse a previous Committee decision to monitor and regulate trade in the porbeagle shark and confirmed Committee rejection of similar proposals for the hammerhead, spiny dogfish and oceanic whitetip sharks. Despite these setbacks, the recent debates have highlighted the urgent plight of sharks.

Find out more
___________________________________________________________

The Shark Alliance was initiated, and is coordinated, by the Pew Environment Group, the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life.

Unsubscribe from this newsletter by logging in and updating your preferences in 'My profile'