The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
SSG Regions - Indian Ocean: Conservation
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African Shark Conservation and Management Workshop
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Brussels, 5 August 2002
IFAW organized the African Shark Conservation and Management Workshop held in May 2001 in Cape Town, South Africa. Scientists, individual experts from Fisheries and Wildlife Departments and conservationists from 23 countries, including 18 African countries convened to discuss the future of shark species - specifically those in African waters - and how best to cooperate continent-wide to conserve them.
The importance of shark conservation was highlighted by Gwen Mahlangu, chairperson of South Africa's Portfolio Committee on Environment and Tourism, when she opened the workshop by emphasizing the significance of African unity to protect their shark stocks from over exploitation both by local and foreign fishing fleets. She called for increased vigilance to protect Africa's shark populations.
The ultimate goal of the workshop was to generate regional memoranda of cooperation for the management and conservation of sharks in Africa's waters. Consequently, workshop participants created the
African Shark Management Group (ASMG) and elected IUCN Shark Specialist Group member, Dr. Malcolm Smale, Port Elizabeth Museum South Africa, as chair for the developing period of the ASMG.
After days of discussions on threats and conservation needs, international policies and agreements, population trends, research data reviews, and eco-tourism, the workshop concluded a second resolution with
"Recommendations in Relation to Shark Finning and FAO Shark Action Plans." The resolution calls on governments to implement FAO's International Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA SHARKS) and to minimize waste and discards.
As time did not allow sufficient discussion to conclude a third resolution with
"Recommendations in Relation to CITES and Non-Consumptive Use,"
the discussion continued via email after the workshop closed. By end of August 2001 this resolution was adopted amongst all participants, with the exception of the representative of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism
For more details please also see www.ifaw.org or contact Peter Pueschel, PPueschel@ifaw.org
To view the above highlighted documents:
African Shark Management Group
Recommendations in Relation to Shark Finning and FAO Shark Action Plans
Recommendations in Relation to CITES and Non-Consumptive Use
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