NOAA Fisheries' latest stock assessment for Atlantic large coastal sharks, including sandbar, blacktip, tiger, hammerhead, spinner, and silky sharks, got three thumbs up from independent reviewers of Natural Resource Consultants, Inc. NOAA Fisheries agreed to peer reviews of the 2002 large coastal shark stock assessment as part of a court-approved settlement agreement with commercial fishermen over shark science and management.

"My review of the 2002 assessment of large coastal sharks suggests that a state-of-the-art [assessment] was performed using the best scientific information available," writes Dr. Terry Quinn II. "The 2002 Shark Evaluation Workshop and the Stock Assessment are scientifically rigorous bodies of work," said Dr. Kim Holland. "…in my opinion, the works of the 2002 Shark Evaluation Workshop and [NOAA Fisheries] are highly professional in character, … based on appropriate fisheries stock assessment techniques and that the scientists based their conclusions on relevant available science," writes Dr. Dayton Alverson.

The assessment indicates good news for blacktip sharks, which are now fully rebuilt. Regulations also have been working to rebuild sandbar sharks, which are no longer overfished, although they are not yet fully rebuilt and fishing effort remains too high. The large coastal shark aggregate, which includes tiger, hammerhead, spinner and silky sharks, is still overfished. As one peer reviewer noted, "Recent management restrictions may have halted the decline in these stocks but current exploitation rates will not stabilize them at (or allow them to rebuild to) maximum sustainable yield levels." The assessment is based on numerous indices, including fishing logbooks, observer data, and fishery independent surveys as well as five different population models and a number of scenarios.

NOAA Fisheries published an emergency rule on December 27 that establishes fishing quotas for large coastal sharks. The agency is currently seeking public input for additional options to manage large coastal shark species. Over the next year, NOAA Fisheries will be working on an amendment to shark regulations. Scoping meetings and the release of an issues and options paper will be announced shortly.

The highly migratory species advisory panel will meet February 10-12, 2003, in Silver Spring, MD, to review the assessment and make recommendations for large coastal shark management.