SPAW SHARK PROPOSALS for 5 shark and 3 ray species Irene Kingma November 1 st 2016 / SPAW STAC meeting Miami Dutch Elasmobranch Society
IPOA Sharks, FAO 2009 Objective ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use applies to all species of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras applies to all types of catches (directed, bycatch, commercial, recreational or others) and waters where such fishing tales place
IPOA Sharks, FAO 2009 NPOAs developed by Colombia Costa Rica Mexico Panama United States of America EU
Existing management in the region US Existing Management BAHAMAS 1 TAC (0-TAC spurdog) MEXICO 10 species prohibited Pegic species managed through RFMOs (tresher, HONDURAS blue, mako) ST. MAARTEN COSTA RICA PANAMA COLOMBIA BONAIRE/SABA VENEZUELA
Small Tooth Sawfish Pristis pectinata Proposed for Annex II
Small Tooth Sawfish Biology Large fish (3-4m adult) Age at maturity 5-8yrs Live bearing with 15-20 pups in a 2 year cycle Ecology Shallow coastal waters Small home range and site fidelity Live mostly in inshore, mangrove and seagrass habitat
Small Tooth Sawfish Threats Heavily fished for over 100 years Valued for meat, fins and bill (rostrum) Highly susceptible to bycatch (rostrum) Habitat destruction Critically Endangered in the Western Central Atlantic
Small Tooth Sawfish Strong decline in the past century, now at 5% of original population size Present in US, Belize, Cuba, Honduras and Bahamas
Small Tooth Sawfish Annex II justified Criteria 1: serious species decline Criteria 4: listed as critically endangered by IUCN Criteria 5: CITES listing & trade in rostra Criteria 6: Seasonal migration between countries
Oceanic Whitetip Shark Carcharhinus longimanus Proposed for Annex II
Oceanic Whitetip Sharks Biology Large fish (3-4m adult) Age at maturity 4-5yrs Live bearing with 15-20 pups in a yearly cycle Ecology Oceanic epi-pelagic Live mainly at surface
Oceanic Whitetip Shark Threats Heavily fished for over 50 years throughout entire range (pelagic longline Bycatch in swordfish and tuna fishery Valued for fins and meat Critically Endangered in the Western Central Atlantic
Oceanic white tip Shark Formerly one of the most abundant shark species in the ocean Decline of over 70% in Western Central Atlantic Gulf of Mexico decline of 93%
Oceanic Whitetip Annex II justified Criteria 1: serious species decline Criteria 4: listed as critically endangered by IUCN for the Western Central Atlantic Criteria 5: CITES listing & trade in fins Criteria 6: Migratory species
Whale Shark Rhincodon typus Proposed for Annex II
Whale Shark Biology Largest fish (15-20m adult) Can live up to 100yrs Very little info on life cycle Ecology Oceanic epi-pelagic Sometimes coastal for feeding Can dive down to 2000m
Whale Shark Threats Highly susceptible to overfishing Bycatch in tune fisheries Valued for fins Vulnerable in the Western Central Atlantic
Whale Shark Global decline of 50% 3 Caribbean nations named as prime ecotourism sites (Mexico, Belize & Honduras)
Whale Shark Annex II justified Criteria 1: serious species decline Criteria 4: listed as vulnerable by IUCN, highly vulnerable to overfishing Criteria 5: CITES listing & trade in fins Criteria 6: Migratory species
Hammerhead Sharks Sphyrna lewini, S. Mokarran and S. zygaena Proposed for Annex III
Hammerhead Sharks Biology First reproduction at 4yrs Can live up to 100yrs 12-40 pups in yearly cycle Ecology Coastal & semi-pelagic From surface up to 200m Juveniles mainly coastal Adults aggregate in large numbers
Hammerhead Sharks Threats Targeted heavily in fisheries Aggregations easy to exploit Bycatch in tuna fisheries Recreational fishery in US Valued for fins (up to 2.7 million sharks per a year) Endangered in the Western Central Atlantic
Hammerhead Shark Declines up to 90% reported Caribbean sea has distinct populations Dive tourism in Bimini & Bahamas
Hammerhead Shark Annex III justified Criteria 1: serious species decline Criteria 4: listed as endangered by IUCN for the Western Central Atlantic Criteria 5: CITES listing & trade in fins Criteria 6: Migratory species present throughout SPAW area
Manta rays Manta birostris, M. Alfredi & M. Birostros cf. Proposed for Annex III
Manta rays Biology First reproduction at 8-10yrs Can live over 40 yrs 2 pups in 2 year cycle Can have up to 7m Ecology Coastal areas & islands with upwelling, pinnacle & sea mounds From surface up to 200m M. birostris oceanic, m. alfredi coastal/reef Adults aggregate in large numbers
Manta rays Threats Targeted in fisheries & bycatch in purse seine and trawl fisheries Aggregations easy to exploit Gill rakers sold in Chinese medicine Vulnerable in the Western Central Atlantic
Manta Ray Strong decline of 50% and distinct population in the region
Manta rays Annex III justified Criteria 1: decline and fragmentation of species Criteria 4: listed as endangered by IUCN for the Western Central Atlantic Criteria 5: CITES listing & trade in gill rakers Criteria 6: Migratory species present throughout SPAW area
Thank you!