The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 10: January 1998
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White shark now protected in Western and federal waters of Australia...
In October 1997 the Fisheries Minister for Western Australia, Mr
House, announced the proposed enactment of legislation to ban
both commercial and recreational catches of this species in the State.
This followed moves in June to list the shark as a commercially
protected species, which came into force at the beginning of October.
Recreational protection should have been in force by the end of
November. Commercial shark fishermen will be developing a code
of conduct for handling great white sharks caught incidentally.
Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias. Photo: © Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch.
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Victoria is now the only state within the normal Australian range
of the white shark which has still to introduce specific white shark
protection measures, but it is considered likely to follow suit within
the next few months.
In December, the great white shark and grey nurse (sand tiger,
ragged tooth) shark were listed as Vulnerable under the Endangered
Species Protection Act. The taking or killing of these species is no
longer permitted in Australian Commonwealth waters (which extend
from three nautical miles offshore to the edge of the continental shelf
or the Australian Fishing Zone, whichever is greater). Anyone
wishing to capture a great white shark or grey nurse shark in
Commonwealth waters for scientific purposes must apply for a permit.
... US Atlantic and Gulf waters ...
As reported in the last issue of Shark News (9:10), a new rule for
Atlantic shark fisheries implemented in April 1997 prohibited directed
commercial fishing for white sharks in US federal waters (although
recreational catch-and-release only fishing is still permitted).
Other species protected from all directed fishing in the Atlantic
were the whale shark, basking shark, sand tiger and bigeye sand tiger.
... and receiving improved protection in California
A new law prohibiting the deliberate take of white sharks in Californian
state waters came into force in August 1997, repealing the 1993 state
law which provided temporary protection for the species. Exceptions
are made for scientific and educational research and for incidental
catch in selected net fisheries. The bill was sponsored by the Centre
for Marine Conservation, the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, and the
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and supported
by over two dozen conservation, fishing, surfing and scientific
organisations.
Compiled by Sarah Fowler, with thanks to several
Shark Group members who provided information and updates.
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