The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 6: March 1996
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News
Protection of the white shark in Australia
As reported in Shark News 5 (p.lO), following the circulation of a
South Australian Fisheries Department discussion paper on the white
shark Carcharodon carcharias, the Australian Marine Conservation
Society and the Australian Seafood Industry Council have been
actively promoting the protection of the species. Indeed, the latter
organisation passed a resolution at its national meeting stating: "The
Australian Seafood Industry Council is aware of the susceptibility of
the great white shark to targeted fishing pressure and will seek an end
to existing, and any proposed, targeted fishing by requesting fisheries
agencies to protect this species under appropriate fisheries legislation."
In January this year the Tasmanian State Parliament announced that
the species has been officially listed as protected in Tasmanian
waters. No news has yet been obtained of similar moves from other
Australian states (the species already receives partial protection in
South Australia), and it is not possible to provide the more detailed
article we had hoped to feature in this issue.
Two readers of Shark News have reported that numbers of white
sharks at Dangerous Reef, South Australia, formerly an important
white shark filming and study site, have declined to such an extent
that many visits there in recent years have been unsuccessful. One
likely reason for this decline has been incidental catch in fishing
operations. It is now suggested that this source of mortality is being
augmented as a result of changing fishing practices in the local tuna
fishery. Tuna caught in circular nets offshore are now being towed
back alive to Port Lincoln for fattening prior to sale. The live tuna
reportedly attract predatory sharks (primarily whites and bronze
whalers Carcharhinus brachyurus) which are shot and powerheaded
to protect the catch. The numbers of sharks killed in this way are
unknown, but may be significant for a species which is not thought
to be abundant even in its centres of distribution and which will
readily approach boats, so is particularly vulnerable to directed
kills by fishermen.
International Year of the Reef
1997 is to be promoted as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR),
in an effort to raise public awareness and alert the global community
to the rapidly deteriorating state of the world's coral reefs. This is an
initiative of the international coral reef research and conservation
community and has received endorsement from a wide range of
organisations. In particular it is supported by the International Coral
Reef Initiative, a partnership of nations and organisations that is working
to implement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 as it relates to coral reefs.
Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi.
© 1995 by Sid F. Cook. All rights reserved.
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IVOR will involve a major effort to assess the condition of coral
reefs worldwide, to document patterns of degradation and seek their
causes, to educate public users and the public on the value of coral
reefs and to assist in the development of strategies to advance their
recovery and promote their sustainable management. The emphasis
is on promoting collaboration and coordination between existing
organisations and programmes involved in reef research and
management. The concept has taken off well in the United States,
through the efforts of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) and the
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. In Australia,
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will be promoting IVOR
and plans are underway in the UK to develop a programme of
activities.
For further information contact: Sue Wells, 56 Oxford Road,
Cambridge, CB4 3PW, UK. Tel. (+44) (0)1223-350409; email:
sue.wells@wcmc.org.uk; or Stephen Colwell, CORAL, 809
Delaware St, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA. Tel. (+1) 510-528-2492;
Fax. (+1) 510-528-9317; email: CoralReefA@aol.com
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