The UK takes another step to protect endangered sharks
Endangered sharks will be given greater protection following the signing of an international agreement on the conservation of sharks, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon announced today.
Endangered sharks will be given greater protection following the signing of an international agreement on the conservation of sharks, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon announced today.
The agreement, the first of its kind to address the global conservation of sharks, was signed by Richard Benyon on behalf of the UK and a number of our Overseas Territories.
Adopted under the Convention of Migratory Species it will help develop management measures to protect threatened species such as basking, longfin mako and whale sharks.
Many of these sharks are not only found in UK waters, but in the waters of our Overseas Territories making their involvement crucial in ensuring these animals get the protection they need.
Signing the agreement, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said:
“We must do all we can to protect these vulnerable species before they are lost forever.
“The UK is already pushing the EU to tighten controls on the wasteful and barbaric practice of shark finning, and this agreement further demonstrates our determination to ensure they do have a future.
“We will continue to lead the way on shark conservation internationally and will push for improvements wherever they’re needed.”
Under the agreement, work will focus on improving fisheries data for threatened shark species to help inform conservation and management actions. It will see better co-ordination of shark management and conservation measures at regional and international levels, including proposals to limit the catch or trade in endangered species of shark.
Today’s signing also extended the agreement to the UK Overseas Territories of Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Indian Ocean Territories and Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man.
Notes
The UK is the 24th signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on shark conservation agreed under the Convention on Migratory Species.
Other species of shark covered under the agreement are shortfin, white, porbeagle and Northern hemisphere populations of the spiny dogfish.
More information can be found at: http://www.cms.int/species/sharks/sharks_bkrd.htm