Sharks in the Spotlight
Experts Gather to Assess Status of North & Central American Sharks and Rays
Gland, Switzerland, and Sarasota, US, 15 June 2004 (IUCN) - Experts are gathering this week at Mote Marine Laboratory,
Florida, US, to examine how sharks and rays of North and Central American waters are faring against mounting threats
such as overfishing. IUCN - The World Conservation Union is convening the group to assess regional populations of these
vulnerable species and recommend action to ensure their survival.
"Sharks do not have the capacity to withstand intense fishing pressure, yet exploitation of their populations, in this
region and around the world, is increasing at a frightening rate," says Dr. Rachel Cavanagh, Programme Officer for the
IUCN Shark Specialist Group. "We are hopeful that this landmark workshop will address the urgent need to evaluate the
population status of sharks while inspiring international initiatives to conserve them."
Sharks (and closely related skates and rays) are particularly susceptible to overexploitation because they grow slowly,
mature late and produce few young. Global catches are on the rise. Demand for the Asian delicacy "shark fin soup"
creates incentive to kill sharks solely for their fins. In addition, the degradation of coastal habitat poses a threat
to many coastal shark and ray species. Yet sharks, skates, and rays remain low priority for research and management
attention.
"Shark conservation is hindered by a lack of information and support, and time is running out," said Sonja Fordham,
shark conservation specialist for The Ocean Conservancy. "Critical habitats are being degraded and fisheries are
expanding before basic biological information is developed. Few countries impose any restriction on shark fishing. Even
in the US, a leader in international shark conservation, many populations remain un-assessed and under-protected."
Scientists from government agencies, universities and private institutions are participating in the workshop which runs
from 15-18 June. These include the authors of papers on shark and skate declines published in the journals Science and
Nature and the experts who developed population assessments for existing shark and skate management plans, as well as
prominent researchers from Central America. In total, more than 50 experts from the US., Mexico, Canada, Colombia,
Panama, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ecuador are attending, providing a unique opportunity
for bilateral and international collaboration.
"Most sharks travel across national boundaries, which complicates their conservation," added Dr. Robert Hueter, Director
of Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research and host of the workshop. "Management measures for these highly
migratory species need to be consistent throughout the species' range and may involve multiple jurisdictions. To achieve
effective conservation, we must develop our international partnerships as well as our knowledge base."
North and Central American waters support a great diversity of sharks and rays, many of which are already depleted.
Several species of skates taken incidentally in New England and Canadian trawl fisheries are at critically low levels
while, further south, directed fishing for Atlantic sharks has led to population declines of 80% or more. Sawfish, a
type of ray once common in the Southeast US and Central America, are in danger of extinction. While the US and Canada
restrict the take of many depleted or otherwise vulnerable Atlantic sharks and skates, most North and Central American
populations, particularly those in the Pacific, have yet to be assessed. In most cases, fishing continues unabated.
The workshop is the fifth in a global series to assess all the world's shark and ray species. Previous regional
workshops have focused on Subequatorial Africa, South America, Australasia and the Mediterranean Sea. Species
assessments produced at the Florida workshop will be included in the 2005 update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species, the world's most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. Red listings can rapidly influence
management, for instance, Australia promptly tightened restrictions on two shark species highlighted at the Australasia
workshop. The Mote group will also develop regional priorities for shark research and management.