A new report has discovered that one third of shark and ray species are endangered, and two thirds of the endangered species are at risk of extinction by overfishing.
The 2000-page International Union for the Conservation of Nature report highlights Australia’s improved fisheries management but says our governments still allow the fishing of some of our most endangered sharks and rays – Australians still being served up endangered sharks in their fish and chips.
Government must do more to protect endangered species
The Australian Government must do more to protect our endangered sharks and rays despite a new report highlighting some improvements in our fisheries management, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International (HSI) Australia said after the world’s leading endangered species authority released its second report on sharks, rays and chimeras.
The report notes that shark meat demand has doubled since 2005 – when the IUCN released its first groundbreaking report on sharks, rays and chimeras – from US$157 million in the early 2000s to US$283 million in 2016.
Australia cannot rest on its laurels
AMCS shark expert, Dr Leonardo Guida, said that globally, Australia is positioned relatively well in terms of efforts towards shark conservation, but the bar is low and Australia cannot rest on its laurels. ‘The Australian Government must deliver strong new nature laws to protect our environment and endangered species and fix our fisheries,’ said Dr Guida.
‘The report highlights Australia’s improved fisheries management, but some of our endangered sharks are still being caught and ending up in your fish and chips. Most Australians would be appalled to be served up endangered species when they order “flake”, a label that should only be used for gummy shark.
School shark overfished for nearly four years
‘The Australian Government still allows the catch and sale of some of our most endangered shark species from its largest shark fishery, the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). Endangered school shark has been overfished for nearly four years, with total mortality limits exceeding scientifically recommended limits by 14-18 per cent each year from 2021 to 2024.
Dr Guida said more than 1,500 critically endangered whitefin swellsharks are killed and sold on average each year, with 1281-1953 taken annually from 2019 to 2022. ‘While the IUCN considers the whitefin swellshark as Critically Endangered, the Australian Government is still currently assessing whether to add it to our threatened species list.
‘Meanwhile the Maugean skate is being driven to extinction by the overstocking of salmon in its only home in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.’
HSI Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said the report is very clear. ‘Governments around the globe have a responsibility to enact regulation and legislation to ensure we don’t lose these species so vital to ocean health, and Australia is no exception.
An endemic shark and ray hot-spot
‘We are an endemic shark and ray hot-spot, with nearly half of our shark and ray species found nowhere else on Earth. No one can save these species but us.’
The report highlighted the bycatch of endangered species in Australia and the need for better monitoring of fishing activity, making the recommendation: ‘Fisheries that target sharks or regularly interact with species of conservation interest and/or concern have meaningful observer coverage, either human or electronic. Where electronic monitoring occurs, there is a requirement for a minimum amount of video to be reviewed to allow the accurate estimate of discards.’
The report also said Australia needed better coordination of its shark research and population studies conducted independently of fisheries: ‘There is also a need for improved information on the status of stocks that could be improved by the implementation of long-term fishery-independent surveys.’
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