Unfortunately all the news is not good. Canadian officials were not willing to close a Porbeagle shark fishery, which means this shark species has a questionable future. Why are Canadian Government officials not willing to protect this endangered shark species, in order to save a few jobs? According to the website:
In 2007 these statements were made about the Porbeagle species in Canada:
"Porbeagles are slow reproducers even by the sluggish standards of the shark world.They are not biologically equipped to take heavy fishing," said Sonja Fordham, director of the shark conservation program for the Washington-based Ocean Conservancy." (source: http://www.illegal-fishing.info/item_single.php?item=news&item_id=1825&approach_id=12 )
So again why has the Canadian Government refused to protect the porbeagle species? Have they done a population survey of this shark species and found the species can handle the current fishing limits imposed on this species? We deserve to know what the rationale is behind this decision of the Federal Government of Canada!
Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gDNgcXIVUqgvlgARjGpgIE5vwccQ?docId=CNG.455c7dbd53102b145e0c1ae0f4794258.651
The porbeagle (Scientific name: Lamana nasus) (pictured above) is a large pelagic shark that is most often found close to the continental shelf between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Gulf of Maine. Porbeagle meat is mainly sold in Europe, while its fins are sold to Asian markets. Source: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/international/facts-faits/sharks-requin-eng.htm
Source of image:http://www.shark-pictures.com/viewpic/porbeagle-shark-at-surface-316.html
According to the following website:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/back-fiche/2005/hq-ac91a-eng.htm
in November, 2005 it was reported by the Canadian Government that the Department of Fisheries was engaged in a research project concerning the Porbeagle species: where it is stated:
Porbeagle Shark Migration Patterns and Location of Pupping Grounds
"This project is designed to identify the migratory pathways and pupping grounds of porbeagle sharks to improve the international management of this species, and to possibly designate the pupping areas as marine protected areas", ....."these species are now being considered for listing as an endangered species in Canada."
At the website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/npoa-pan/npoa-pan/npoa-sharks-eng.htm I found the following statement:
"Best evidence indicates that the porbeagle population began to decline in the 1960s. Canadian vessels joined the fishery in the 1990s with the result that reported landings reached 1,778 tonnes in 1992. According to the 2001 stock status report, the porbeagle population was under pressure from fishing and was low in abundance. Consequently, in 2002 the TAC for porbeagle was set at 250 tonnes, with 200 tonnes being directed catch and 50 tonnes as bycatch."
"As a result of this management plan, the porbeagle population has stabilized. However, population projections indicated that population recovery would require that harvest rates be kept below four per cent. In response, the TAC was lowered for the fishery in 2006 to 185 tonnes (135 tonnes directed and 50 tonnes bycatch). Given the low productivity of the porbeagle, it is expected to take several decades for this species to recover from its low abundance."
If it is going to take several decades for the porbeagle species to recover from its low abundance then why did the Canadian Government refuse to protect this species from being overfished??
