The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 8: December 1996
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European Elasmobranch Groups
Deutsche Elasmobranchier-Gesellschaft (DEG)
The German Elasmobranch Society (DEG) was founded in Hamburg
on 28 October 1995 by a group of seven scientists, journalists and
amateur shark enthusiasts. It is a non-profit-making registered Society
under German law, and now has about 60 members, including three
corporate members representing other societies. This is not just a
society for academics, but also for marine scientists, students, sports
divers, anglers, yachtsmen and all members of the general public
concerned about the conservation of marine life in general and
elasmobranchs in particular.
The DEG will address its activities primarily to the German
speaking public in Europe, with the aims of providing information and
education regarding chondrichthyans and supporting necessary fishery
management and conservation measures. However, the Society will
also cooperate with equivalent national and international organisations
involved in research and conservation of chondrichthyan fishes.
The German language Newsletter Elasmoskop (35 pages) is
published twice a year in June and December. Elasmoskop 2/96 is due
out this month.
Requests for information should
be addressed to the Vorstand (executive
committee),
Deutsche Elasmobranchier-Gesellschaft e.V.,
c/o Zool. Museum der Universitaet Hamburg,
Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3,
D-20146 Hamburg, Germany
(fax: + 49 40 4123 3937)
First anniversary of Italian elasmophile group
The first meeting of a group of Italian elasmophiles was held on
2 December 1995 at the City Aquarium, Milan. The meeting provided
the occasion for a number of scientists active in elasmobranch
research in Italy to present the results of their studies (including:
occurrence of large elasmobranchs in the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian
Seas and in the Sicily Channel; presence in Italian waters of the great
white shark; blue shark and thresher shark by-catch in the southern
Adriatic Sea; aspects of the reproductive biology and feeding ecology
of blue sharks in the northern Adriatic Sea; tagging programmes of
blue sharks in the Adriatic Sea; blue shark morphometric studies; and
occurrence of organochlorine compounds in elasmobranch tissues).
These contributions will be published in Italian and English in the
Quaderni della Civica Stazione Idrobiologica di Milano, the scientific
periodical of the City Aquarium. During the meeting, this informal
group unanimously adopted the decision to eventually become the
Italian branch of the European Elasmobranch Association.
For more information, please contact:
Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute, viale
G.B.Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy.
Fax (+ 39) 2 72001946, email: gnstri@imiucca.csi.unimi.it
European Elasmobranch Association launched
The European Elasmobranch Association (EEA) was launched on
25 October at an evening meeting in the National Sea Life Centre,
Birmingham. This is a non-profit body which is intended to coordinate
the activities of all European organisations dedicated to the study
or conservation of sharks and rays. It seeks to advance research,
sustainable management, conservation and education throughout
the region. Some of its priorities are:
- Introducing effective management on a regional basis to regulate shark and ray fisheries and ensure their sustainability.
- Reducing shark and ray bycatch and mortality in other fisheries.
- Improving records of catches, landings and international trade.
- Increasing research effort on the biology of sharks and rays and impacts of fisheries.
- Improving management of threatened elasmobranch habitats.
- Providing information to the public and decision-makers.
A member of the German Elasmobranch Society (DEG) presented
a letter of congratulations from their president. There were also
representatives present from the Italian Elasmophile Group, the
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and the UK ad hoc Shark
Working Group, other founding partners in the EEA. The UK partner
organisation (to be named the Shark Trust or Shark Fund) is still
seeking charitable status and is therefore not yet formally established.
Representatives of three of the four organisations grant-aiding this
initiative were present: Scottish Natural Heritage, English Nature and
WWF (UK). The Countryside Council for Wales is also helping to fund
the first year's work of the Association.
The EEA has been established as a non-profit
limited company, and will be managed by
representatives of each share-holding
elasmobranch group in Europe.
Participating shares are also
available for purchase
by other organisations
interested in the
objectives of the EEA.
All share allocations
must be approved by
the Board.
Individuals wishing to support the EEA may subscribe directly
(contact details below). Subscribers will also receive a regular
newsletter and invitations to attend regular meetings of the Association.
Further details are available from:
The European Elasmobranch
Association, 36 Kingfisher Court, Hambridge Road,
Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5SJ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1635 550380. Fax: +44 (0)1635 550230. Email: shark@naturebureau.co.uk
Third European shark and ray meeting
The third European shark and ray meeting took place in Birmingham
on 26-27 October 1996. Nearly 100 participants from 12 countries
heard papers on a wide range of aspects of elasmobranch reproduction,
evolution, research in the field and laboratory (including tagging
programmes run by scientists and amateurs), behavioural ecology (of
white sharks), fisheries research and management, conservation
initiatives and international trade. Highlights of the meeting included
presentations from speakers from the USA and South Africa, invited
by the sponsors, the Sea Life Centres (UK). Gordon Croft (Sea Life
Centre, St Andrews, Scotland) is to be congratulated on organising an
excellent meeting.
Authors have been asked to submit copies of their papers, so that
copies of the proceedings can be made available (Shark News will
publish details when available).
Three photographs are available showing participants at the
meeting. Lack of space prevented them from being reproduced here
- we will try to print them in a future issue or EEA newsletter. Contact
the photographer, Richard Lord, if you would like to obtain copies
(Sealord House, Montville Road, St Peter Port, Guernsey,
GY1 1BQ, Great Britain. Fax: + 44 (0)1481 700699,
email: fishinfo@itl.net).
Sarah Fowler
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