New Zealand National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of

October 2008 FOREWORD

Sharks have been unfairly characterised as callous hunters. In reality it is the sharks that are hunted, both commercially and recreationally, and many of the world’s stocks are at risk from over-fishing. We now know that sharks play an important role in maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem.

The New Zealand EEZ is home to over 100 species of shark. New Zealand has a global responsibility to manage and conserve our shark species. The Ministry of Fisheries has produced this National Plan of Action for Sharks to address this responsibility consistent with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisations International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA – Sharks).

The overarching goal of the IPOA-Sharks is:

‘to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use’

New Zealand’s National Plan of Action for Sharks will ensure that measures are in place to enable this internationally-accepted goal for shark stocks to be met.

New Zealand has a world class fisheries management system that applies equally to sharks as it does to other fish species. The NPOA-Sharks recognises that sharks are particularly vulnerable to over-fishing, and the actions described in the Plan will strengthen measures to conserve and manage our shark species. The challenge for all involved in New Zealand fisheries is to work together to ensure we achieve all our goals for shark stock management.

In producing a National Plan of Action for Sharks we are giving our absolute commitment to achieving shark conservation and sustainable use.

HON. JIM ANDERTON

Minister of Fisheries October 2008

Page 1 of 90 CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

INTRODUCTION 7 PURPOSE 7 SCOPE 7 BACKGROUND 7 PART 1 NEW ZEALAND SHARK SPECIES 9

PART 2 SHARK MANAGEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND 11 2.1 MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS 12 2.1.1 Prohibited utilisation management framework 12 2.1.2 QMS management framework 14 2.1.3 Non-QMS management framework 19 2.2 GENERIC SUPPORTING FRAMEWORKS UNDER THE ACT 20 2.2.1 Reporting 21 2.2.2 Compliance 21 2.2.3 Observer programme 22 2.2.4 Fisheries research 23 2.2.5 Non-fisheries research 24 2.2.6 Consultation 25 2.3 ADDITIONAL STATUTORY CONSIDERATIONS UNDER THE FISHERIES ACT 26 2.3.1 Environmental Principles (section 9) 26 2.3.2 Information principles (section 10) 26 2.4 KEY POLICY FRAMEWORKS 27 2.4.1 Fisheries Plans 27 2.4.2 Standards 28 2.4.3 Environmental policies 32 2.5 MANAGEMENT OF SHARK FINNING 33 2.5.1 Measures to minimise waste 34 2.5.2 Finning and welfare 36 PART 3 ALIGNMENT WITH THE IPOA-SHARKS 38 3.1 IPOA-SHARKS OVERARCHING GOAL 38 3.2 IPOA-SHARKS GUIDING PRINCIPLES 38 3.2.1 Participation 38 3.2.2 Sustaining stocks 39 3.2.3 Nutritional and socio-economic considerations 39 3.3 PROPOSED OBJECTIVES OF AN NPOA-SHARKS 40 3.3.1 Sustainability 40 3.3.2 Utilisation 41 3.3.3 Environmental considerations 42 3.3.4 Additional Considerations 43 PART 4 PLAN OF ACTION 45 4.1 FISH IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 47 4.2 GENERIC CODES 47 4.3 STRENGTHEN EXISTING RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAMMES 48 4.3.1 Aim 49 4.3.2 Method 49 4.3.3 Output 50 4.4 PARTICIPATE IN RELEVANT RFMOS AND OTHER RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL FORA 51 4.4.1 RFMOs 51 4.4.2 CITES 51 4.4.3 CMS 51

Page 2 of 90 4.4.4 Other international fora 52 4.5 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROHIBITED UTILISATION PROCESS STANDARD 52 4.6 PROTECT 52 4.7 ENSURE THAT FISHERS ARE AWARE THAT LIVE SHARK FINNING CONSTITUTES ILL-TREATMENT 52 4.8 ESTABLISH REPORTING PROTOCOL TO ENFORCE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT PROVISIONS RELATING TO LIVE SHARK FINNING 53 4.9 REVIEW SCHEDULE SIX PROVISIONS 53 4.9.1 Spiny dogfish 53 4.9.2 Other QMS species 54 4.10 REVIEW AND REVISION OF NPOA 54 APPENDIX 1 55 NEW ZEALAND SHARK FISHERIES 55 Quot