National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management
of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks)
The Ministry of Fisheries is consulting on a plan of action for sharks in line with the international and United National plan to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long term sustainable use
Shark fisheries in New Zealand
New Zealand catches large numbers of sharks. Most are taken by commercial fishers under the quota management system. Catch records supplied by commercial fishers for the 2005-06 fishing year indicate that about 8,200 t are spiny dogfish this is 37% of New Zealand reported shark catch, just over 3,000 t (14%) is school shark, just under 3,000 t (14%) is elephant fish and ghost shark. Skates are included and they make up 2,500 t (10%) of the total, then comes rig at 1,300 t (6%). MFish state that just 670 t (3%) of blue shark and less that 100 t (0.5%) each of mako and porbeagle shark are caught each year. It is hard to have much confidence in these figures and no numbers of fish are stated.
Blue, mako and porbeagle sharks can be release alive by commercial fishers under the special provisions of the 6th schedule of the Fisheries Act. There is a very limited market for the flesh but shark fins are easily sold for good money so most of these sharks are killed, have their fins removed and the body is dumped.
Experienced sport fishers have noticed a significant decline in the number of pelagic sharks around New Zealand. In the 2006–07 club fishing season 223 mako sharks were tagged and released. A further 34 makos were weighed so about 87% of mako sharks caught by gamefish club members in 2006–07 were tagged and released. The number of makos released without being tagged is unknown. Fifteen Blue sharks and one porbeagle were reported landed by NZBGFC clubs in 2006–07. Pelagic sharks that are landed and weighed by recreational fishers are generally dumped at sea.
The objectives of the draft National Plan of Action
The Minister of Fisheries has a duty to manage all fish stocks sustainably. Sharks can be slow growing with low reproductive rates which mean that their number can decline a lot even if they are taken as a by-catch of fishing for other species. A number of countries have introduced measures to limit shark fining. Typically this involves the introducing regulations that specify a maximum percentage (such as 5%) of the landed weight of shark that may be comprised of fins. This provides an incentive to either obtain some financial return from the landed trunks or to avoid taking the sharks in the first place.
However, the Ministry of Fisheries state in the draft plan “that there is a risk in regulating to avoid waste in that such regulations may merely transfer the disposal site from the sea to the land (i.e. unwanted product is landed and discarded in land dumps). New Zealand has therefore taken an alternative approach that better fits with its fisheries management regime. This approach focuses on ensuring that sustainable catch limits are set under the QMS.”
MFish have grouped the main international plan of action objectives as follows:
Sustainability objectives
i) Ensuring that target and incidental take is sustainable
ii) Assessing threats to shark populations
iii) Protecting threatened and endangered shark species
MFish state that existing management systems such as the QMS and the recent ban on taking white pointer sharks can meet these objectives.
Utilisation objectives
iv) Implement harvesting strategies consistent with the principles of rational long term use
v) Minimise unutilised incidental catches of sharks
vi) Minimise waste and discards from shark catches
vii) Encourage full use of dead sharks
The first objective MFish believe will be met using the QMS and Fisheries Plans.
They state that “New Zealand agrees that minimising waste from the use of natural resources is to be encouraged, and considers that this position fits within the overarching goal of fisheries management in New Zealand to maximise the value New Zealanders obtain through the sustainable use of fisheries resources.”
They then go on to claim that only a small proportion of the overall shark catch is finned. However it is a large proportion of the catch of some species of particular interest to recreational fishers. These fish are migratory and they are caught and killed for their fins over a large part of their natural range. The New Zealand QMS is meaningless if the international catch of these species is unsustainable.
PROPOSED PLAN OF ACTION
After 37 pages of discussion the NPOA outlines the rather weak actions MFish propose:
a) Produce a field identification guide
Production of a draft field identification guide for commonly caught sharks in commercial and noncommercial fisheries by late 2007.
b) Reduce use of generic shark reporting codes
Reduce the percentage of the total commercial shark catch recorded against generic codes to below 1% by 1 October, 2010.
c) Initiate a research and monitoring programme to address
- stock status and sustainable yields for exploited shark stocks
- effectiveness of conversion factors in achieving accurate green weight;
- monitoring of wastage in shark fisheries;
- assessment of measures to promote improved utilisation; and
- identification of areas of habitat of particular significance to shark species (e.g. spawning, pupping and nursery grounds)
d) Participate in relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organizations
Support initiatives by other organisations/agencies to collect information on shark species; and actively participate in the research and management of shark species
e) Establish a prohibited utilisation process standard for endangered species
f) Protect Basking Shark
New Zealand has an obligation to provide protection for this species in New Zealand waters and from New Zealand vessels fishing on the High Seas.
g) Ensure fishers are aware that live finning of sharks constitutes ill-treatment and is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act
The Ministry of Fisheries will ensure that the cruelty aspect of live finning is articulated clearly to fishers operating in fisheries where shark finning takes place.
h) Establish reporting protocol to enforce the Animal Welfare Act
A reporting protocol will be established to ensure that any observed instances of live finning are reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
This draft plan has taken a long time to produce from a joint MFish, DoC, MAF and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade process. The consultation document was released on 18 October 2007. Probably MFish will be taking the lead in consultation and implementation of the plan. Submissions close on 1 February 2008.
NZBGFC has an interest in pelagic shark management in New Zealand and the wider region. Blue Water Marine Research propose to prepare a 5 page draft submission for NZBGFC by 30 November. Please forward any comments or information to Roz Nelson
nzbgfc@bordernet.co.nz
