Is the Collapse of Shark Populations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Real

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Is the Collapse of Shark Populations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Real perspective conservation Is the collapse of shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico real? ABSTRACT Increasing fishing pressure on sharks stocks over recent decades has resulted in declines of many populations and led to increasing concerns for their conservation. The extent of these declines, however, has been highly variable—the result of the level of fishing, ocean condi- tions, and the life history of individual species. Two recent articles have described the collapse and possible extirpation of shark populations in the northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Herein, we examine the results of these two papers commenting on the data sets used, comparing them to other available data sets, and critically evaluating the analyses and conclusions. We argue that these conclusions have been overstated because: (1) the analyses were based on a limited number of data sets, (2) the data sets themselves are inadequate to describe the status of all shark populations in the northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico reported in these studies, (3) available data sets that could produce different conclu- sions were not utilized, (4) some factors were not taken into account that could have biased the results, (5) there were no alternate hypotheses presented evaluating other causes of the perceived decline, and (6) the authors did not consider any current stock assessments, which in several cases report the status of sharks to be considerably healthier than asserted. Introduction George H. Burgess Sharks are generally regarded to exhibit slow growth, late Lawrence R. Beerkircher maturity, and low reproductive output, making them particularly Gregor M. Cailliet vulnerable to exploitation (Musick et al. 2000a). Although our knowledge of the demography and population dynamics of sharks John K. Carlson has been slow to develop when compared to teleosts and other Enric Cortés vertebrates, considerable progress has been made in recent years Kenneth J. Goldman in the study of demographic rates and population modeling of sharks, which have provided a more accurate picture of the sta- R. Dean Grubbs tus of some populations (Cortés 2004). For example, Smith et al. John A. Musick (1998) and Cortés (2002a) reported on intrinsic rates of increase Michael K. Musyl using two demographic modeling approaches for 26 and 38 Colin A. Simpfendorfer species of sharks, respectively. Age- and sex-structured popula- R. DEAN GRUBBS tion dynamics models with probabilistic risk analysis under various harvesting strategies were developed to assess the status Burgess is director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, of school (Galeorhinus galeus) and whiskery (Furgaleus macki) Gainesville. sharks off southern Australia (Punt and Walker 1998; Beerkircher is a research fishery biologist at the Southeast Simpfendorfer et al. 2000, respectively). Apostolaki et al. (2002) Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/National Marine Fisheries and Cortés et al. (2002) applied fleet-disaggregated, fully explicit Service, Miami, FL. age- and sex-structured population dynamics models to the Cailliet is a program director at the Pacific Shark Research blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) in the northwestern Center, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA. Atlantic Ocean. These studies have illustrated that the produc- Carlson and Cortés are research fishery biologists at the tivity of sharks varies widely, declines in shark populations are Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/National Marine not consistent for all species, and in some cases sharks can be sus- Fisheries Service, Panama City, FL. tainably harvested. Goldman is a fisheries research biologist at the Alaska In two recent papers, Baum et al. (2003) and Baum and Myers Department of Fish and Game, Homer. (2004) described the collapse of shark populations in the north- Grubbs is a research faculty member at the Hawaii Institute of west Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, respectively. Baum et Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe. al. (2003) concluded that scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna Musick is the Acuff professor of marine science at the Shark lewini), white (Carcharodon carcharias), and thresher (Alopias Research Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, spp.) sharks have declined by over 75%, and tiger sharks Gloucester Point. (Galeocerdo cuvier) and a coastal species group (Carcharhinus Musyl is a senior researcher at the Joint Institute of Marine and spp.) have declined by over 60% in the past 15 years in the Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. northwest Atlantic Ocean. Further, Baum and Myers (2004) Simpfendorfer is a senior scientist at the Center for Shark concluded that oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) and Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota FL. He can be silky (Carcharhinus falciformis) sharks have declined by over 99% reached at [email protected]. October 2005 | www.fisheries.org | Fisheries 19 and 90%, respectively, in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1950s. Estimated population status can be These papers may have had a substantial influence in a number dependent on the data source of recent conservation decisions regarding the listing of species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered In Baum et al. (2003), the analyses and conclusions were based on Species (CITES) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) detailed examination of only one gear type (pelagic longline, which Red List of Endangered Species. For example, the white shark does not adequately sample coastal shark species) out of the more was recently proposed and listed under Appendix II of CITES than 20 data sets available for coastal and pelagic sharks (Table 1). (CoP13 Doc. 32 Rev1) . One of the factors in the decision to list The Pelagic Logbook Data Set has advantages in that it has a wide the white shark was the purported decline in abundance of over geographic coverage, is a long time series, and has over 200,000 sam- 75% in the northwest Atlantic Ocean reported by Baum et al. ples. However, sharks constitute bycatch in the pelagic longline (2003). Moreover, in June 2004 the oceanic whitetip shark was fishery, and there are major caveats associated with utilization of the proposed as “Critically Endangered” under the IUCN Red List of pelagic logbook data. The results for oceanic shark species such as the threatened species based primarily on the study of Baum and blue shark (Prionace glauca) or shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) may Myers (2004) in the Gulf of Mexico (R. Cavanagh, World be more credible than those for coastal species, but the results should still be considered preliminary without the full benefit of data from Conservation Union, pers. comm.). We believe Baum et al. multiple international sources and a complete stock assessment. (2003) and Baum and Myers (2004) made inferences based on One of the major caveats associated with this data set is the occur- limited data sets that are inappropriate for estimating abundance rence of under-reporting and over-reporting of some shark species, of many shark species, thus making their conclusions overly pes- and misidentification of species by commercial fishers. Vietnamese- simistic. These conclusions have alarmed the conservation and Americans make up a substantial amount (up to 50%) of the pelagic scientific community in general, and the public at large, on the longline fishing effort, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. The poten- status of shark populations. Herein, we identify several potential tial among these fishers to misidentify and misuse generic words such flaws and omissions in these studies which should have been as “white shark” is very high (S. Allen, fisheries observer with the taken into account in the analyses or discussed as alternate Pelagic Observer Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, hypotheses. Southeast Fisheries Science Center, pers. comm.). For example, Table 1. A summary of catch series available from previous shark stock assessments. DNR = Department of Natural Resources, NMFS = National Marine Fisheries Service, UF = University of Florida, VIMS = Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Years refers to the time period of the data set, beginning with the oldest. A year followed by a dash denotes an ongoing survey or program. Type refers to whether the index is from a commercial or recreational source, or is fishery independent from a scientific survey. Area indicates the area covered by the survey or fishery. NE = northeast, NW = northwest, SE = southeast, SW = southwest. Data Set Years Type Area NMFS SE Bottom Trawl Survey 1972– Scientific Survey Gulf of Mexico NMFS NE Bottom Trawl Survey 1972– Scientific Survey NW Atlantic Ocean VIMS Longline Survey 1974– Scientific Survey Mid-NW Atlantic Ocean JAX (Florida Shark Club) 1974, 1989, 1990 Recreational East Florida Crooke Longline 1975–1989 Commercial NW Florida Point Salerno 1976–1990 Recreational East Florida Japanese Longline Observer Program 1978–1988 Commercial NW Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (Early) 1981–1993 Recreational NW Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico South Carolina DNR Longline Survey (Early) 1983, 1994 Scientific Survey South Carolina Tampa Bay 1985–1990 Recreational West Florida Hudson 1985–1991 Recreational West Florida Large Pelagic Survey 1986– Recreational Mid-NW Atlantic Ocean Pelagic Logbook Program 1986– Commercial NW Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico Brannon 1986–1991 Commercial
Recommended publications
  • Recreational Harvest of Sharks and Rays in Western Australia Is Only a Minor Component of the Total Harvest
    Recreational Harvest of Sharks and Rays in Western Australia is only a Minor Component of the Total Harvest Matias Braccini ( [email protected] ) Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Eva Lai Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Karina Ryan Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Stephen Taylor Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Research Article Keywords: elasmobranch, conservation, management, sheries, catch reconstruction Posted Date: February 23rd, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-225321/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/20 Abstract Sharks and rays are of global conservation concern with an increasing number of species at risk of extinction, mostly attributed to overshing by commercial shing. Their recreational harvest is poorly known but it can be of similar magnitude to the commercial harvest in some regions. We quantied the recreational harvest of sharks and rays in Western Australia, a region with a marine coastline of > 20,000 km. We recorded 33 species/taxonomic groups but the harvest was dominated by dusky and bronze whalers, blacktip reef shark, gummy shark, Port Jackson shark, wobbegongs, and rays and skates. Most species caught were released (85% of all individuals), although gummy and whiskery sharks were typically retained. There was a clear latitudinal gradient of species composition with tropical and subtropical species of the genus Carcharhinus dominating in the north and temperate species of the families Triakidae, Carcharhinidae, Heterodontidae and Rajidae dominating in the south. The recreational harvest was negligible compared with commercial landings.
    [Show full text]
  • Catch Composition of the Western Australian Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fisheries, 1994 to 1999
    FISHERIES RESEARCH REPORT NO. 146, 2003 Catch composition of the Western Australian temperate demersal gillnet and demersal longline fisheries, 1994 to 1999 R. McAuley and C. Simpfendorfer Fisheries Research Division WA Marine Research Laboratories PO Box 20 NORTH BEACH Western Australia 6920 Fisheries Research Report Titles in the fisheries research series contain technical and scientific information that represents an important contribution to existing knowledge, but which may not be suitable for publication in national or international scientific journals. Fisheries Research Reports may be cited as full publications. The full citation is: McAuley, R. and Simpfendorfer C. 2003. Catch composition of the Western Australian temperate demersal gillnet and demersal longline fisheries, 1994 to 1999, Fisheries Research Report No. 146, Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, 78 pp. Numbers 1-80 in this series were issued as Reports. Numbers 81-82 were issued as Fisheries Reports, and from number 83 the series has been issued under the current title. Enquiries Department of Fisheries 3rd floor The Atrium 168-170 St George’s Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Telephone (08) 9482 7333 Facsimile (08) 9482 7389 Website: http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/res Published by Department of Fisheries, Perth, Western Australia. November 2003. ISSN: 1035 - 4549 ISBN: 1 877098 36 1 An electronic copy of this report will be available at the above website where parts may be shown in colour where this is thought to improve clarity. Fisheries Research in Western Australia The Fisheries Research Division of the Department of Fisheries is based at the Western Australian Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach (Perth), Western Australia, 6920.
    [Show full text]
  • Observer-Based Study of Targeted Commercial Fishing for Large Shark Species in Waters Off Northern New South Wales
    Observer-based study of targeted commercial fishing for large shark species in waters off northern New South Wales William G. Macbeth, Pascal T. Geraghty, Victor M. Peddemors and Charles A. Gray Industry & Investment NSW Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence P.O. Box 21, Cronulla, NSW 2230, Australia Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority Project No. IS8-9-M-2 November 2009 Industry & Investment NSW – Fisheries Final Report Series No. 114 ISSN 1837-2112 Observer-based study of targeted commercial fishing for large shark species in waters off northern New South Wales November 2009 Authors: Macbeth, W.G., Geraghty, P.T., Peddemors, V.M. and Gray, C.A. Published By: Industry & Investment NSW (now incorporating NSW Department of Primary Industries) Postal Address: Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, PO Box 21, Cronulla, NSW, 2230 Internet: www.industry.nsw.gov.au © Department of Industry and Investment (Industry & Investment NSW) and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority This work is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this reproduction may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owners. Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatsoever without such permission. DISCLAIMER The publishers do not warrant that the information in this report is free from errors or omissions. The publishers do not accept any form of liability, be it contractual, tortuous or otherwise, for the contents of this report for any consequences arising from its use or any reliance placed on it. The information, opinions and advice contained in this report may not relate to, or be relevant to, a reader’s particular circumstance.
    [Show full text]
  • Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997
    The IUCN Species Survival Commission Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 Edited by Sarah L. Fowler, Tim M. Reed and Frances A. Dipper Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 25 IUCN The World Conservation Union Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management: Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997 The IUCN/Species Survival Commission is committed to communicate important species conservation information to natural resource managers, decision-makers and others whose actions affect the conservation of biodiversity. The SSC's Action Plans, Occasional Papers, newsletter Species and other publications are supported by a wide variety of generous donors including: The Sultanate of Oman established the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund in 1990. The Fund supports Action Plan development and implementation. To date, more than 80 grants have been made from the Fund to SSC Specialist Groups. The SSC is grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for its confidence in and support for species conservation worldwide. The Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan has awarded major grants to the SSC's Wildlife Trade Programme and Conservation Communications Programme. This support has enabled SSC to continue its valuable technical advisory service to the Parties to CITES as well as to the larger global conservation community. Among other responsibilities, the COA is in charge of matters concerning the designation and management of nature reserves, conservation of wildlife and their habitats, conservation of natural landscapes, coordination of law enforcement efforts as well as promotion of conservation education, research and international cooperation.
    [Show full text]
  • COMMERCIAL FISHING for SHARKS Rates If Overfi Shed
    Commercial fi shing for sharks By Kevin McLoughlin Shark gillnet vessel at the wharf in Darwin (© Kevin McLoughlin) in sharks having low resilience to fi shing and slow recovery COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR SHARKS rates if overfi shed. This means that sharks need careful management if shark fi sheries are to be sustainable. Many by Kevin McLoughlin shark fi sheries throughout the world have brought about rapid stock declines and collapse. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Fisheries and Marine Sciences Program, GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia What fi shing methods are used to Background catch sharks Sharks have been fi shed for thousands of years. In primitive Gillnets are the most common fi shing gear used in fi sheries that societies, they were caught with wooden or bone hooks for are targeting sharks (fi gures 1–4). Gillnets consist of a panel their meat and livers. Their teeth could be used as weapons or panels of net held vertically in the water column, either or tools. Over time, uses have been found for most parts of suspended near the surface or near the ocean fl oor. The mesh a shark’s body. The skin can be used for leather for shoes or size used depends on the species being fi shed. Small fi nfi sh belts, jaws are taken as souvenirs, the fl esh is eaten, the carcass and sharks are able to pass through the meshes. The meshes are can be used for fertilizers, the fi ns in soup and liver oil is a designed to entrap the fi sh around the torso.
    [Show full text]
  • Fisheries Research Report No. 294
    Fisheries Research Report No. 294 Resource Assessment Report Temperate Demersal Elasmobranch Resource of Western Australia Matias Braccini, Nick Blay, Alex Hesp & Brett Molony November 2018 Correct citation: Braccini, M., Blay, N., Hesp, A. & Molony, B. 2018. Resource Assessment Report Temperate Demersal Elasmobranch Resource of Western Australia. Fisheries Research Report No. 294 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. 149 pp. Enquiries: WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920 Tel: +61 8 9203 0111 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fish.wa.gov.au A complete list of Fisheries Research Reports is available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au Important disclaimer The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Gordon Stephenson House 140 William Street PERTH WA 6000 Telephone: (08) 6551 4444 Website: dpird.wa.gov.au ABN: 18 951 343 745 ISSN: 1035-4549 (Print) ISBN: 978-1-921258-18-3 (Print) ISSN: 2202-5758 (Online) ISBN: 978-1-921258-19-0 (Online) Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) 2018 Fisheries Research Report [Western Australia] No. 294 ii Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • And Their Functional, Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications
    DePaul University Via Sapientiae College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations College of Science and Health Spring 6-14-2019 Body Forms in Sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii), and Their Functional, Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications Phillip C. Sternes DePaul University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Sternes, Phillip C., "Body Forms in Sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii), and Their Functional, Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications" (2019). College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations. 327. https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd/327 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Science and Health at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Body Forms in Sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii), and Their Functional, Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science June 2019 By Phillip C. Sternes Department of Biological Sciences College of Science and Health DePaul University Chicago, Illinois Table of Contents Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................ii List of Tables..................................................................................................................................iv
    [Show full text]
  • Report N9 37
    REPORTN9 37 Plblishod by the Dir€.ior ol tish€ri€5 and Wildllla, Porth, under the autho.ity ol the H.n. Minister for rish€ries and Wildlitc An Inventoryof the MarineResources of the BunburyMarine Area and GeographeBay BY MICHAELH. WALKER 1979 6L6I -IfVHSIW U3)"IVM 'H .f,q IVglHdvugolg 0NVVIUV llllUvl^l IUnSNn[]Hl l0 silutl0silINIUVI/'JlHl l0 IU0INSAIIjI IUOd]U j H,tusiI , ecer.re,tr,epTeTepv g oT eJTTpTTM pue seT.reqs;g 3:o 4uaur4.redaq tIZ!90 CONTENTS ABSTMCT 5 I I NTRODUCTION 6 II THEMARIt'|E RESOURCE ASCAPTURED BYCONVENTIONAL FISHINGIVIETHODS 6 I. INTRODUCTION 6 2. METHODS 3. THE RESOURCECAPTURED BY 9 A. SET LINING 9 B. TRAPPING L2 C. SET NETTING L2 D. EAND LINING 13 E. TROLLING t-3 F. BEACH SEINING 14 G. RING NETTING L4 H. TRAWT-,ING t_f, r. LIGHT ATTRACTION AT NIGIIT I6 III ANINVENTORY OFTHE FISH RESOURCE I7 T. INTRODUCTION L7 2. SUI"IMARYoF SoMEAsPEcTs oF THEBIoLoGY oF GEoGRAPHEsly/sut'tsuRy MARINE FIsHEs 18 3. cHEcKLIsroF FISHESoF THE eeoenepHegny/ BUNBURYMRINE AREAWITH COMMENTS ON THEIRECOLOGICAL STATUS t9 IV SUIvlIvlARYANDCONCLUSIONS 2L V ACKNOI^|LTDGEIIENTS 23 VI REFERENCES 23 ' 9t ITEIUVtrNrtrvn rUngNng ,/IVS Sg'Tgu9OS9 SIT.IJNIII'IIII4 SVSTTE9NIT'IWVS .T 3Un9H 'vgnE 6€ sNIutn rungNos sg.r qNv tvg eHdw9ose .{o ssHsrJl sHJ ,40 ,rsITxcsHJ '8 '916T !L UStilEAON qNv rrEdv 'sz6T usw{sAoN,/ussorcoNr sssrnuo TSAENS S$UE,I ONIUNC qSUO,IiTYC SEHSIJ IiIOU.II qg,rJsTToc NoI,rvt[tIo.rNI T\rJreoToTg ,ilo .f,unnnns '^ LL I SHaVE9oS9 NIH.IIM SNOI&Vf,O{I UO.!I SSgfiVJ SNISS ESVES '9 TT 'ssgSr\fJ ilsN HsrJ vgrw sNruw{ ruflsNns/rvs sgdvEgosrg 's A7 .
    [Show full text]
  • A Report Card for Australia's Sharks and Rays
    Shark futures: A report card for Australia’s sharks and rays Colin Simpfendorfer, Andrew Chin, Cassandra Rigby, Samantha Sherman, William White March, 2019 FRDC Project No 2013/009 FRDC Project No 2013/009 xx 2017 © 2019 Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-9954471-2-7 Shark futures: a report card for Australia’s sharks and rays 2013/009 2019 Ownership of Intellectual property rights Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights, if any) in this publication is owned by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University. This publication (and any information sourced from it) should be attributed to Simpfendorfer, C., Chin, A., Rigby, C., Sherman, S., White, W. (2017) Shark futures: a report card for Australia’s sharks and rays’, Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, May. CC BY 3.0. Creative Commons licence All material in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence, save for content supplied by third parties, logos and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence is a standard form licence agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided you attribute the work. A summary of the licence terms is available from creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en. The full licence terms are available from creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode. Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of this document should be sent to: [email protected] Disclaimer The authors do not warrant that the information in this document is free from errors or omissions.
    [Show full text]
  • Recreational Fishing of Sharks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: Species Composition and Incidental Capture Stress
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: de Faria, Fernanda (2012) Recreational fishing of sharks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: species composition and incidental capture stress. Masters (Research) thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/27963/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/27963/ Recreational fishing of sharks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: species composition and incidental capture stress Thesis submitted by Fernanda de Faria (BSc in Biological Science) in August 2012 For the degree of Master of Science in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Supervisors Dr. Colin Simpfendorfer Dr. Stephen Sutton Dr. Cynthia Awruch Dr. Renae C. Tobin "Discovery only comes about by exploration and in many ways this includes taking risks. Knowledge itself can only be advanced by those who have the courage of their convictions" Neville Coleman "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do" Johann Wolfgang STATEMENT OF ACCESS I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the university library and allow access to users in other approved libraries. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and; I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work.
    [Show full text]
  • Whiskery Shark, Furgaleus Macki
    Published Date: 1 March 2019 Whiskery Shark, Furgaleus macki Report Card Sustainable assessment IUCN Red List IUCN Red List Australian Endemic to Australia Global Least Concern Assessment Assessment Assessors Simpfendorfer, C., McAuley, R.B. & Harry, A.V. Caught for the flesh; population slowly recovering after depletion with Report Card Remarks current catches below acceptable levels Summary The Whiskery Shark is endemic to south and southwest Australia. It is caught in commercial gillnet fisheries with the flesh sold mostly in Australia. The species was Source: CSIRO National Fish Collection. License: CC BY Attribution historically reduced to 20–52% of unexploited biomass but the stock has been stable for about three generations (~30 years). The fishery is now tightly managed and regular monitoring occurs with the current catch considered to be below acceptable levels and the population is slowly increasing. Therefore, the species is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN) and Sustainable (SAFS). Distribution The Whiskery Shark occurs from North West Cape (Western Australia) south through southern Australia and to eastern Victoria, including northern Tasmania (Last and Stevens 2009). Stock structure and status The Whiskery Shark is found in greatest abundance off southwestern Australia from Albany to Kalbarri (Western Australia), and is rare off southeast Australia (Victoria and Tasmania). The species was historically reduced to 20–52% of virgin biomass within three generations (~30 years) (Simpfendorfer et al. 2000a). However, due to management changes that include effort restrictions, the current population has stabilized in 2010–2011 and is slowly increasing. Fisheries The Whiskery Shark is caught in commercial gillnet fisheries with the flesh primarily sold in Australia and it has been caught in Western Australia since the 1940s (Simpfendorfer and Donohue 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Sharksthe State of the Science Executive Summary the Biological Characteristics of Sharks Make Them Particularly Vulnerable to Overfishing
    OCEAN SCIENCE SERIES SharksThe State of the Science Executive Summary The biological characteristics of sharks make them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. They grow slowly, become sexually mature relatively late and produce few offspring. This vulnerability is reflected in the large number of shark species that are considered to be threatened or endangered. A review of the current scientific literature on the number of sharks killed per year, the causes of this mortality, the status of shark species worldwide and the impact on ecosystems after large predators are removed provides the following key points: ■■ Millions of sharks are killed every year to supply the fin trade. In 2000, for example, 26 million to 73 million sharks were killed for fins, corresponding to 1.21 million to 2.29 million tons of shark. ■■ Commercial fisheries targeting sharks occur throughout the world. Sharks are sought primarily for their fins and meat but also for their cartilage, liver and skin. ■■ The highest numbers of reported shark landings are from: Indonesia; India; Taiwan, Province of China; Spain; and Mexico. ■■ Shark bycatch is frequently reported in pelagic longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish and can represent as much as 25 percent of the total catch. This bycatch is considered to be a major source of mortality for many shark species worldwide. ■■ Blue sharks make up an especially large fraction of shark bycatch in pelagic fisheries (47–92 percent). ■■ The value of shark fins has increased with economic growth in Asia (specifically China), and this increased value is a major factor in the commercial exploitation of sharks worldwide.
    [Show full text]