Brussels, 20/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA), the only formal consultation body to stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector at a European level, published an opinion on Wednesday 20 February on the action plan for sharks - an initiative that the European Commission plans to adopt in the next few months. ACFA supports implementation of measures to reduce shark catches, while insisting on the need to improve knowledge about shark stocks and how to reduce by-catches of this species.
ACFA (which brings together ship-owners, producer organisations, dealers, sea fishermen, consumers and some environmental NGOs) says it is fully aware of the need to manage shark catches by Community boats. However, it would like an action plan that: - is adapted to the different cases presented (biological and ecological characteristics of sharks vary, and sharks can represent an important catch for fishing boats or constitute by-catches or accidental catches etc); - fits at the same time into a European and international policy of sustainable use of marine resources and of marine biodiversity conservation; - is the result of joint work of the Commission, scientists and stakeholders in order to develop effective, controllable and socio-economically sustainable management and conservation measures; - is carried out in a “rational and non-emotional way”, where sharks are recognised as a significant source for fishing communities (use of flesh, cartilage, fins and skin etc) and an essential factor in marine eco-systems.
ACFA insists that it is necessary to collect and evaluate information on the biological characteristics of sharks caught, as well as on products marketed throughout the chain. To achieve this aim, ACFA believes it necessary to make the declaration systems more accurate (harmonisation of data collection and of national or Community observer programmes) and to teach crews (through training programmes) to recognise the species during sorting and sales. This body is in favour of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) or, if scientific assessment is not possible, it supports precautionary TACs.
ACFA highlights the need to expand research on the means for minimizing by-catches of sharks. It says that it is against the practice of “finning”, which consists in discarding sharks at sea (dead or alive) after their fins have been removed. This practice is a “waste of resources”. (L.C.)