03
Dec
Shark Alliance dissatisfaction
As 2008 proposed total allowable catch (TAC) limits for sharks tabled by the European Commission greatly exceeds the scientific advice.
ICES has documented serious, long-term overfishing of European spurdog and porbeagle shark populations and has repeatedly recommended no fishing of these species and minimization of incidental ‘bycatch.” Last week, the Commission instead proposed a modest 25% reduction in spurdog TACs and establishment of a barely restrictive limit on porbeagles, at 422 metric tons.
The Commission has also recommended a 25% reduction in the North Sea TAC for skates and rays, but this amount is still well above what fishermen are landing and fisheries for these species in adjacent waters remain largely unregulated.
The final limits will be set by EU Ministers, Dec 17-20; the Commission’s proposals for 2008 TACs are available at
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_88_en.htm
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