| NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing that commercial and recreational fishing for sandbar sharks be significantly reduced and limited to only those commercial vessels that take part in a shark research program. Sandbar sharks, because of their large fins, are the most valuable species among the large coastal sharks. The fins are considered a delicacy and are a main ingredient in ethnic food dishes such as shark fin soup. Sandbar and dusky sharks, like other shark species, mature late, grow slowly and produce relatively few young. This makes them particularly vulnerable to overexploitation. NOAA banned all fishing for Atlantic dusky sharks in 2000, after stock assessments showed severe depletion. The proposed changes to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan would reduce the quota for sandbar sharks by 80 percent as part of the rebuilding plan. NOAA Fisheries would also establish a shark research fishery of between five and 10 vessels that could land sandbar and other sharks. The vessels would be required to have observers on board and meet other criteria. This research would be designed to gain more information about the status, mobility, migration, habitat, ecology, and age and growth characteristics of sandbar sharks. Other proposed measures include the closing of some areas to shark fishing as recommended by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; establishing a limit per trip on the amount of other large coastal sharks a fishermen can keep; requiring that fins be attached to any shark that is commercially landed; and reducing the shark species that recreational fishermen can keep. Comments may be sent to ShkA2@noaa.gov until 5pm on October 10, 2007. In addition, 10 public hearings will be held in August and September 2007, in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas. Details are provided in the proposed rule. For more information, contact Michael.Clark@noaa.gov. |
Sandbar Shark Limits Proposed | NOAA
