The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 8: December 1996
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News from Australia
Great White Shark Carcharodon carharias. © Ian Fergusson, 1994.
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As Shark News goes to press, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International (HSI) are lobbying their Federal Environment Minister and the Australian National Conservation Agency to nominate the great white shark for a CITES appendix listing. AMCS and HSI have employed a consultant to prepare the nomination to speed up the process. The Minister has indicated his willingness to submit the nomination in time for the January 1997 deadline, as long as he has support from other range state governments. This is urgently being sought.
While a decision is still awaited regarding the nomination of the great white shark under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act, directed fishing for this species has just been banned in New South Wales waters. Indications are also promising with another of the state nominations. An application by HSI to seek protection of the great white shark in Victorian State waters under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 has been supported by the State's Scientific Advisory Committee. A decision should have been reached by the time of the next issue of Shark News.
Bill Foster, Australian Marine Conservation Society
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