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Global Conservation Sanctuaries for a Predator in Peril

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public, and stimulate civic life.

www.PewTrusts.org THE OPPORTUNITY

Swift, graceful, mysterious, superbly adapted of animals on Earth. Ironically, however, . Recognizing this opportunity, The to their environment, sharks have been the even though people are the principal threat Pew Charitable Trusts initiated a campaign apex predators of the since long to sharks, they also are their greatest hope. to reverse the decline of shark populations before dinosaurs roamed the planet. For worldwide. some 400 million years, they have been The fate of sharks has broad implications. the unchallenged rulers of the deeps and There is increasing evidence that the loss At the core of Pew’s shark conservation shallows of the marine world. of sharks may have a ripple effect on the efforts is its work to establish sanctuaries in vitality of food webs in many areas of the the waters of key countries and stop the No longer. They are falling victim to a fiercer global . “They are our canary in the coal of sharks in places where predator that is threatening to end their mine of the oceans,” said Dr. Boris Worm, a they still stand a chance to rebound. Shark long reign and driving them to the edge of professor of at Dalhousie sanctuaries provide full protections for sharks extinction. That predator is us—people. In University in Nova Scotia. in a country’s (EEZ), recent decades, human appetites, technology, the area of ocean that extends up to 200 economics, and greed have mounted a Governments around the world are begin- miles from shore. ferocious assault on sharks, an assault that ning to recognize the value of healthy shark is bringing their numbers crashing down populations. Some rely on the dollars sharks As the continued expansion of industrial throughout the world’s oceans. can bring through dive tourism; some see fishing leaves few places in our oceans sharks as culturally significant to legend untouched, now is the time to protect these Killed for their fins, for their flesh, for their and tradition. Others are acknowledging last remaining places where sharks can still skin and other body parts; killed for sport that just as a healthy savanna needs its rule their marine world. and for souvenirs; killed by accident, sharks top predators to weed out the weak and —Jill Hepp are now among the most threatened groups infirm, so vibrant marine systems need director, Pew global shark conservation

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! NORTH ATLANTIC NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN

Gulf of Northern Philippine Mariana Islands

Arabian South Sea GLOBAL SHARK CONSERVATION Sea SANCTUARIES FOR A PREDATOR IN PERIL Equator Cook The Opportunity 1 Islands Shark Sanctuaries 2

Palau 4 French Polynesia American Maldives 6 Honduras 8 SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN The Bahamas 10 Marshall Islands 12 SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN French Polynesia 14

Cook Islands 16

Shark Sanctuaries Shark Trade Bans SOUTHERN OCEAN Tasman U.S. Pacific 18 Scotia Sea Sea The Future: Global Shark Sanctuaries 20 Shark sanctuaries (blue dots) are areas with clear regulations that protect sharks from commercial fishing in a country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Since 2009, Pew’s initiatives have been instrumental in securing 11.4 million square kilometers (4.4 million square miles) of shark sanctuaries around theAntarctica world. Pew has also helped establish areas that ban the trade of shark fins (green dots). The of Tokelau also declared its entire EEZ a in 2011.

2 3 PALAU

Lying southeast of the in the west- Palau, with approximately 130 species of In September 2009, before the U.N. General ern Pacific Ocean, Palau is an archipelago shark, is regarded as one of the top dive Assembly, President Johnson Toribiong of more than 586 islands and more than destinations in the world. The largest draw declared Palau’s full EEZ a shark sanctuary, 600,000 square kilometers (230,000 square for tourists has always been the schools of closing its waters to all forms of commercial miles) of ocean, an area equal to the reef sharks attracted to nutrients shark fishing. The declaration was the first to size of . The Rock Islands Southern along the outer edge of reefs. A study by the protect all species of shark in a country’s Lagoon in the state of Koror is recognized Australian Institute of Marine Science found waters, and it became a model for all shark as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The high that divers spend US$18 million a year to see sanctuaries created in subsequent years. biological diversity of the area, including at Palau’s sharks, accounting for 8 percent of The Rock Islands of Palau, also called Chelbacheb, least 13 shark species, is renowned for its the country’s gross domestic product. formed millions of years ago from volcanic eruptions. exceptional conservation value. Photo: Norbert Wu/MindenPictures.com

4 5 MALDIVES

The Maldives, which has more than 1,000 of Biosphere Reserve as it contains some of least 100 times more alive at a dive site than coral islands grouped among 26 atolls, lies in the richest waters of the atolls. Numerous dead on a fishing boat. In 2010, the the Indian Ocean. Its ocean waters extend reefs are home to a high diversity of coral Maldives established the first shark sanctuary more than 900,000 square kilometers and marine species. Hanifaru Bay is known in the Indian Ocean. The sanctuary helped (almost 350,000 square miles), an area greater for the seasonal gatherings of whale sharks to protect the tourism industry by ending than the size of France and combined. and manta rays, attracting tourists from commercial fishing for all shark species in More than 30 species of shark, including the around the world. Maldivian waters. The protections also include , are found off the Maldives. a ban on the import and export of sharks. The country’s Ministry of and A diver swims beneath a whale shark, the world’s largest In the west atoll chain of the Maldives, Baa Agriculture found that as early as 1993, gray fish, in the waters of the Maldives. Atoll is a designated UNESCO World Network reef sharks were estimated to be worth at Photo: Mark Strickland/SeaPics.com

6 7 HONDURAS

Honduras, located in Central America, is the Caribbean coast of Honduras are the Americas. With the sanctuary, Honduras also bordered by , , and Bay Islands of Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja. bans the possession, sale, import, and ex- . With coastlines on both the Shark diving is popular in these areas, and port of sharks and shark products. One year Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Honduras Utila is known for its annual whale shark after the sanctuary was created, Honduras has an EEZ of more than 240,000 square congregations. demonstrated successful enforcement of kilometers (92,000 square miles), an area its shark protections with the burning of approximately the size of the . In June 2011, President Porfirio Lobo Sosa hundreds of confiscated shark fins. signed legislation establishing full shark The southern end of the Mesoamerican protections in Honduran waters, making Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef permanent the country’s 2010 moratorium in the world, extends into Honduran waters on shark fishing. This was the first shark A guard stands over hundreds of illegal shark fins and is home to more than 500 species of sanctuary to include both a Pacific and confiscated by Honduran authorities in 2012. Photo: Miguel Ángel de la Cueva/International fish, including 40 species of shark. Off Caribbean coastline, as well as the first in the League of Conservation Photographers

8 9 THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas, a Caribbean archipelago In 2010, Pew partnered with The Bahamas the commercial fishing of sharks along with off the coast of , is made up of 700 National Trust, a nonprofit organization, to the sale, import, and export of parts and islands and 2,400 cays with a span of ocean advocate for permanent shark protections products. totaling more than 629,000 square kilometers in the waters surrounding this tropical (240,000 square miles), an area similar in size archipelago. Pew developed a major outreach After the sanctuary announcement, Pew to . Due to a ban on longline fishing gear effort that included school events, public organized a celebratory film tour featuring in the 1990s, The Bahamas is one of the few meetings, and visits from renowned marine “Sanctuary: The Last Stand for Sharks.” This locations in the Caribbean where relatively conservationist Pierre-Yves Cousteau, short documentary, directed and produced healthy populations of sharks remain. As a scientist and artist Guy Harvey, and by John Weller and Shawn Heinrichs, paints result, the country is the world’s top destina- “Sherman’s Lagoon” cartoonist Jim Toomey. a picture of the global threats faced by sharks tion for snorkeling and diving with sharks and More than 5,000 Bahamians signed a petition, and recent protections established in The claims the mantle of “Shark Diving Capital and hundreds of students drew their favorite Bahamas. The campaign also created an ed- of the World.” Shark-related tourism has shark to show the government their support ucational manual on sharks for schools and contributed more than US$800 million to the for the shark sanctuary. held a workshop to train local agencies on Bahamian economy over the past 20 years. how to enforce the sanctuary. Researchers and film crews flock there to In July 2011, Lawrence S. Cartwright, the mix with the more than 40 species of shark minister of agriculture and marine resources, Tourism is the largest economic sector in The Baha- mas. Many visitors come to dive with and watch sharks. that live in its waters. established the shark sanctuary by prohibiting Photo: Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas/www.StuartCove.com

1210 11 THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Made up of two nearly parallel chains of atolls permanent protections for sharks. In some of the world’s highest fines for fishing and islands in the central Pacific Ocean, the partnership with the Marshall Islands vessels that violate the shark sanctuary law. Marshall Islands is one of four atoll nations and Conservation Society, the campaign secured one of the most isolated places in the world. the support of the Marshall Islands Mayors In the first year after the declaration, the Some 1,225 islands and are spread Association and the Irooj, the islands’ Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority throughout more than 1.9 million square hereditary traditional leaders. successfully prosecuted four infractions and kilometers (769,000 square miles) of ocean. levied US$235,000 in fines. Pew helped The Marshall Islands shark sanctuary coordinate a marine enforcement workshop The Marshall Islands boasts some of the was established in October 2011, creating to increase capacity and improve collabo- richest, most undisturbed marine ecosystems the world’s second-largest protected ration among the government agencies on the planet. As many as 30 species of area. It covers roughly the same expanse as responsible for marine protections. shark swim in these waters, a place where , Mexico, or , and is many people consider themselves “RiBako,” about eight times bigger than the United or descendants of the shark. Kingdom. All commercial fishing of sharks

and fishing gear used to target sharks are Gray reef sharks, common in the waters of the Marshall Islands, are protected from commercial fishing by the In early 2011, Pew engaged with leaders and banned in the sanctuary, as is the export island nation. communities in the Marshalls to discuss of shark fins. The Marshall Islands also set Photo: Shawn Heinrichs/Blue Sphere Media

12 13 FRENCH POLYNESIA

French Polynesia, an overseas territory of Sharks play an important role in traditional In December 2012, French Polynesia formally France, lies in the South Pacific between and modern Polynesian culture. More than created a shark sanctuary by updating its South America and . With five 21 species may be found in these waters. moratorium to include mako sharks and by archipelagos and an EEZ of more than 4.7 Concerned by assessments showing that establishing a permanent closure on shark million square kilometers (1.8 million square shark populations were declining, the gov- fishing in its waters. miles), French Polynesia has the world’s ernment established a 10-year moratorium largest shark sanctuary, half the size of the in 2006 on the fishing, sale, trade, and . It is best-known for its main possession of sharks and any of their parts, Gray reef sharks are abundant in French Polynesia. island, , a popular tourist destination. with the exception of mako sharks. Photo: Franco Banfi/Biosphoto/MindenPictures.com

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In the South Pacific, halfway between islands, and they are represented through “Akono Te Mango” (Protect Our Sharks). and New Zealand, a mix of coral atolls and the tale of Ina and Mango (the shark), which volcanic islands make up the Cook Islands. is depicted on paper currency and in im- In December 2012, Teina Bishop, the min- The water surrounding the six islands in the ages throughout the country. ister of marine resources, announced the northern group and nine in the southern regulations prohibiting the commercial fish- group makes up an area of more than The sanctuary is the result of a partnership ing of sharks throughout the EEZ. The regu- 1.9 million square kilometers (756,000 square between Pew and the Pacific Islands lations also ban the possession, sale, and miles), an ocean expanse the size of Mexico. Conservation Initiative and the support of trade of shark products. many local community and political leaders. More than 15 species of shark can be Hundreds of signatures were collected on found in the waters of the Cook Islands. a local petition, and students submitted A blacktip reef shark cruises above corals in the cook Islands. Sharks are rooted in the culture of the letters and drawings bearing the message Photo: R. Holler/Tahiti Private Expeditions

16 17 U.S. TERRITORIES: , GUAM,

Three of the five U.S. territories are in the governor and commonwealth Rep. Diego T. American Samoa’s fisheries regulations were Pacific Ocean. The Northern Mariana Islands Benavente. amended to include this trade ban, as well and Guam are in the western Pacific, south as a ban on shark fishing within its territorial of . American Samoa, which includes Guam followed with a similar law in March waters. This was the first territory to ban all five volcanic islands and two atolls, is in the 2011. Pew partnered with local high school take of sharks, creating the strongest shark South Pacific. students to advocate for passage of the protection measures of any U.S. state or measure by collecting signatures and territory. Pew led a concerted outreach effort In January 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands providing oral and written testimony at a in the community to build support for this banned the possession, sale, and distribution public Senate hearing. conservation measure. of shark fins within three miles of the Students in Guam, above, rally for regional protection archipelago. It was the first law of its kind In August 2012, American Samoan Governor of sharks. in a U.S. territory. To establish these shark Togiola Tulafono issued an executive order Photo: Angelo Villagomez/The Pew Charitable Trusts protections, former fishermen and students banning the take, possession, sale, and trade Two oceanic whitetip sharks, left, swim in the temperate surrounding the U.S. Pacific territories. worked side by side with the lieutenant of sharks and shark parts. In October 2012, Photo: Jim Abernethy

18 19 THE FUTURE: GLOBAL SHARK SANCTUARIES

Ending the of sharks requires number of sanctuaries where shark fishing the world where sharks can fulfill their role major regulatory changes and shifts in the is prohibited. The benefits are tangible, both as a top ocean predator without peril. We way we think about our oceans. Many, if for the environment and for local economies. partner with local government agencies, not most, shark fisheries remain essentially Sharks are a key component of healthy coral nongovernmental organizations, scientists, unmanaged, trade in shark fins and meat reef systems and, particularly in places such and other local stakeholders to establish is largely unregulated, and demand for fins as The Bahamas and Palau, where dive shark sanctuaries. Within these partnerships, continues to grow. Despite the increasing tourism is popular, sanctuaries bring in more Pew draws on fact-based science, real number of protected areas, there are still only dollars. Because of the growing interest in solutions, training, and the information a few places where sharks can find sanctuary. in these places, a reef shark decision makers need to create effective can add US$1.9 million over its lifetime, far conservation policies that protect sharks, and Many scientists and policymakers are more than its value if it were killed for fins or the thriving marine systems that need them calling for immediate action to conserve other commercial purposes. if they are to be healthy far into the future. sharks at national, regional, and interna- tional levels. To do this, Pew believes we The Pew Charitable Trusts is leading a global need a promising strategy for conserving movement to end the overfishing of sharks sharks and other marine life by expanding the and to protect new and larger places around

20 Global Shark Conservation Sanctuaries for a Predator in Peril

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public, and stimulate civic life.

www.PewTrusts.org