LARGE PELAGIC REPORT :
SHARKS
By John Koegler
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - April 1996 Newspaper)
National Marine Fisheries Service shark management regulations have taken a fishery that was traditionally and historically recreational and is trying to manage it as a commercial fishery. Scientists inform us that shark biology can not and will not permit a directed commercial shark fishery that is sustainable. This is a scientific fact !
Sharks are one of the oldest living creatures in the sea. They have a unique biology that features, long life span, late sexual maturity, and low live birth numbers. Shark biology dictates that no directed commercial shark fishery can ever become a sustainable directed commercial fishery.
February's issue of National Fisherman has a shark article by their field editor, Michael Rivlin. He notes, "In world history, there is not a single instance in which an intensive directed shark fishery has not eventually collapsed as a result of fishing pressure. Once a shark population crashes, it may take 30 or more years to recover ... if it recovers at all".
The effect of NMFS mismanagement of the shark resource has been a vast reduction in sharks available in the recreational fishery. The cost of this in dollars to the recreational fleet can only be described as economic devastation. Based on MRFSS data, the recreational fisherman make 1.3 million shark trips per year. Recreational spending for shark fishing is about two hundred million dollars per year. The highest commercial value reported is only about eight million dollars in a year.
The recreational fishery is the only shark fishery that is biologically supportable because such a huge part of the catch is released alive.
Yet, NMFS 1996 Shark Plan proposed:
- Cut recreational shark bag limits by 50% for large coastal and pelagic sharks.
- Cut commercial landings only in large coastals ?
- No cut in commercial 4,000 pound trip limit. Why not?
- No cut in commercial pelagic quota. Why not?
- No elimination of the export of shark fins. Why not?
NMFS's only biological choice is total elimination of the directed commercial shark fishery. NMFS must make the tough choices now !
If NMFS believes that political considerations require a bycatch fishery of less than 10% of the current NMFS quotas, then this sharply reduced fishery might be allowed strictly to prevent resource waste.
NMFS must also start work on new regulations for the small coastal sharks.