The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 5: October 1995
|
European News
ICES Elasmobranch Study Group meeting
The August meeting produced synopses for elasmobranch stocks and
fisheries in European and eastern North American waters (ICES/NAFO
regions).Its recommendations include collaboration on key
issues for the sustainable exploitation of elasmobranchs - an important
first step towards a more organised and integrated approach to the study
of elasmobranchs and their fisheries in the North Atlantic. The report
should be available from the ICES Secretariat, Palaegade 2-4, DK-1261
Copenhagen K, Denmark (http://www.ices.inst.dk/).
There will be an article on this meeting in issue 6 of Shark News,
including the response of the 1995 Annual ICES Scientific Committee.
Proposal to improve EC fisheries records
A new proposal for an EC Council Regulation (COM(95) 322 final) will,
if agreed, establish a list of fish species to be recorded in fisheries
logbook and landing declarations. The proposal is intended to form a
basis for fisheries management and enforcement of conservation
measures and contribute to systematic recording of regulated and
highly migratory species. A total of 194 'species' of fish and invertebrates
are listed, including all those subject to TAC, protected, newly fished,
and of particular scientific or commercial interest. Simplified lists will
be adopted for specific zones and only contain relevant species.
However, the proposal does 'lump' many species together (e.g. all
skates and rays fall within a single category). Other elasmobranchs
listed are the basking shark, spiny dogfish, dogfish sharks (Squalidae),
porbeagle, smoothhounds (Mustellus spp.), and mako shark.
European Elasmobranch Society
A meeting of potential national partners in the initiative to establish this
non-governmental organisation was held in Brussels in September,
partly grant-aided by Scottish Natural Heritage. Representatives attended
from eight European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Spain(Catalonia), Switzerland and the UK. Delegates discussed
the related national and regional initiatives underway or planned in
Europe, agreed the aims and objectives of the proposed EES, and
discussed the type of organisational structure which would be appropriate
for the headquarters and the national or regional branches or member
bodies. It was agreed that formation of the EES should go ahead and
another meeting should be held early in 1996 to report on progress.
Contact the Editor for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
