Brussels, 05/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - As previously announced, (EUROPE 9833), the European Commission adopted on Thursday 5 February, a European action plan for the protection and management of sharks. The European Commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, Joe Borg, presented the plan and informed the press that he believe that the “political will is there” in EU member states to provide further protection to sharks that are most in danger. He is hoping that European fisheries ministers will adopt the action plan conclusions before the end of the year. Legislative proposals will follow and the Commission aims to have new legislation in place to protect squaliformes (sharks, skate and elephant fish) by 2012 or 2013 at the same time as decision on Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform are made.
The Shark Alliance, a coalition of more than 60 conservation, scientific and recreational organisations welcomes the European Commission's Plan of Action. The Alliance states that the plan, “sets the stage for sweeping improvements in European Union (EU) shark fishing and protection policies”. Shark Alliance highlights the fact that the measures aim to “improve information about shark fisheries, end shark overfishing, pay special attention to threatened shark species, and close loopholes in the EU ban on shark finning (the practice of slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body at sea)”. The EU Shark Plan also includes actions at national, EU and international levels. Nonetheless, according to Shark Alliance, the action plan does not go far enough to improve the regulation on the ban on finning. The association is demanding that sharks are return with their fins still attached and that there is no derogation to this rule. Spain benefits from some of these derogations and supplies 95% of all fin exports.
According to the WWF, the European shark action plan “needs more teeth”. It welcomes the initiatives to include observers onboard ships and provisions for by-catch and catch limits for sharks in line with scientific advice. However, the plan needs rapid implementation and strengthened actions, such as mandatory recording of catch data.
The Oceana marine protection association sarcastically stated that there were, “big plans but little action for European shark protection” and “it is not as ambitious as expected”. Ricardo Aguilar from Oceana Europe, said that this document, “does not contain measures to achieve the goal of conservation and sustainable management of sharks”. Key omissions include a commitment to the precautionary approach, and integration with existing EU and global environmental measures that aim to protect threatened sharks and their habitats. (L.C./trans/rh)