Taiwan is implementing the world's first Whale Shark harvest and trade monitoring system - an innovative and important step in the sustainable management of the fisheries resource. Despite these efforts, catch data from the Whale Shark Harvest Reporting System and market information from TRAFFIC’s research raises the possibility of unreported or under-reported catches taking place or significant amounts of Whale Shark meat entering Taiwan’s market through unofficial channels.

A new report Management and Trade of Whale Sharks in Taiwan released today by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, shows a significant discrepancy between catch data from the Harvest Reporting System and the large quantity of Whale Shark product on the market. TRAFFIC is urging Taiwan's authorities to further strengthen its reporting system with comprehensive catch and trade data.

Whale Shark is the largest fish on earth and is widely distributed in all tropical and warm temperate seas. Taiwan has been identified as possibly the world’s largest market for Whale Shark meat; for Whale Shark fins, however, there appears to be no domestic market in Taiwan.

Currently Whale Shark is categorised as 'vulnerable' in IUCN's 2000 Red List of Threatened Animals. A proposal has been submitted to include the species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Acceptance of the proposal by the 160 Member States to CITES convening next month in Chile would mean that international trade in Whale Sharks could continue, but through a system of permits required to ensure that trade is legal and sustainable.

A CITES Appendix II Permit system would allow trade data to be gathered and monitored and provide a mechanism for countries to verify catches. Such a system would strengthen and underpin domestic level initiatives such as Taiwan's Whale Shark Harvest Reporting System.

The Whale Shark Harvest Reporting System was introduced last year to provide a basis for the development of a Whale Shark management system that would take into account both the conservation needs of the species and the economic needs of fishers. Data available from the Harvest Reporting System and Customs have indicated that reported Whale Shark harvests and imports are far lower than the levels of meat found on the market. “During the first eight months last year, officially reported catch would yield an estimated 27 tonnes of marketable meat. However, TRAFFIC’s survey found that a single wholesale market in Taipei sold a total of 42 tonnes of Whale Shark during the same period", said Vincent Y. Chen from TRAFFIC East Asia-Taipei and co-author of the report.

Furthermore, the annual volume of Whale Shark meat sold through the Taipei fishery product wholesale market more than doubled between 1998 and 2000, reaching 60 tonnes in 2000. The average wholesale price decreased dramatically during the same period, from USD6.9 to USD2.03 per kg, which is lower than the price of landed Whale Shark. “Available information on catch and import volumes and prices do not match well with available market information. Hence it is possible that the meat entering the markets is not only harvested locally but imported from elsewhere”, said Marcus Phipps, from TRAFFIC International and co-author of the report.

In order to correct the shortfalls of the current situation, the report urges Taiwan to further enhance its management measures for Whale Sharks, increase the constructive dialogue between the fishing community and conservation stakeholders as well as improve the monitoring systems and data collection for the species’ catch and markets.

The report concludes that special attention needs to be given to development of an action plan for sharks in Taiwan. Such initiatives are especially important given the lack of commitment by shark-fishing nations to implement the FAO’s * International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA). To date, only 1 of 18 major shark fishing nations has implemented the IPOA and only 2 have completed National Plans of Action.

At the CITES meeting next month, shark conservation will be high on the agenda with two listing proposals and a draft Shark resolution being tabled, the latter urging CITES, together with FAO, to actively encourage progress on implementing the IPOA for Sharks.

Listing the Whale Shark in CITES Appendix II would also greatly assist governments in more effective management of Whale Shark harvest and trade. “Appendix II listings provide strong tools for securing the objective of sustainable trade with the requirement that trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species. This would only further support and strengthen national sustainability plans and policies for the Whale Shark”, Chen and Phipps concluded.

For further information, please contact Maija Sirola, Communications Coordinator at TRAFFIC International, tel. +44 (0)1223 277427, email: maija.sirola@trafficint.org

The full report Management and Trade of Whale Sharks in Taiwan (PDF)