Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s Post

Global shark fishing mortality is still rising despite widespread regulatory change Over the past decade, the plight of the world’s sharks has received much attention, resulting in increased regulation and finning bans. However, whether this increased attention has translated into improved outcomes for sharks is unclear. Worm et al. estimated fishing-induced mortality globally and found that, overall, it has continued to increase over the past 10 years. Finning bans had little impact, but fishing regulations did reduce mortality. Over the past two decades, sharks have been increasingly recognized among the world’s most threatened wildlife and hence have received heightened scientific and regulatory scrutiny. Yet, the effect of protective regulations on shark fishing mortality has not been evaluated at a global scale. Here we estimate that total fishing mortality increased from at least 76 to 80 million sharks between 2012 and 2019, ~25 million of which were threatened species. Mortality increased by 4% in coastal waters but decreased by 7% in pelagic fisheries, especially across the Atlantic and Western Pacific. By linking fishing mortality data to the global regulatory landscape, we show that widespread legislation designed to prevent shark finning did not reduce mortality but that regional shark fishing or retention bans had some success. These analyses, combined with expert interviews, highlight evidence-based solutions to reverse the continued overexploitation of sharks. Scientific Publication Science Magazine : https://lnkd.in/dVgdhE9K Dalhousie University | Shark Alert: Ground‑breaking global study reveals species still under threat from finning : https://lnkd.in/dCJWhy8c National Geographic Society | Sharks are still being killed at high rates—despite bans on finning : https://lnkd.in/dhsF-Rni Phys.org | A global study reveals pathways to save threatened sharks, despite rising mortality trends : https://lnkd.in/deh6bDhb The New York Times | Many Laws to Protect Sharks Have Backfired, Researchers Find : https://lnkd.in/dHc7urVN #shark #endangered #threatened #conservation #fisheries #protection #regulation #elasmo #marineconservation IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) CITES Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) IUCN Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF)

It's disappointing to see after so many years of regulatory measures in place, that shark populations are still declining rapidly. One thing is certain, without real enforceable policies in place with effective monitoring strategies/solutions, is anyone that surprised? Most shark species mature extremely slow, and even with proactive and enforceable strategies in place, it will take years for populations to reach healthy levels again. For things to really change, we have to provide alternative sources of income to nations that continue to participate in these illegal activities. Reducing the demand for shark fin soup is one way, but what will replace this lost source of income?

Did you know that seabird populations can become vulnerable as a result of overfishing? MSC certified cockle fisheries in the UK take this into close consideration in the ways their fishing is managed. The Thames Estuary Cockle fishery in Leigh-on-Sea follows the rule of catching a third of the cockles during cockle season, leaving a third for the birds and a third for further breeding. While in the Dee Estuary cockle fishery, there’s a specific calculation made as to the volume of cockles required to feed the migrant oyster catcher population. This all helps to sustain the stock for fishing, and the local and migrating bird populations. Seasonal puffins are a common sight across Scotland, but they are under threat. Puffins are registered as endangered, with climate change, unsustainable fishing and marine pollution all taking their toll on the species. The Scottish Wildlife Trust lists buying sustainably sourced fish as a great way to help puffin populations, as overfishing is reducing the food available to them. MSC certified sustainable fisheries work hard to minimise their impact on the Ocean and protected seabird species like oyster catchers and puffins, aiming to ensure that food resources for birdlife do not become depleted. When you choose seafood with the blue MSC ecolabel, you’re leaving more in store for future generations – that’s more fish on the menu, more Omega-3 for healthy diets and a more vibrant Ocean – for humans, seabirds and other marine life to enjoy. Let's make sure there are fish forever. #sustainableseafoodseptember #oystercatchers #puffins #blueMSCecolabel #ukfisheries #irishfisheries #seabirds #sustainablefishing #cockles #cocklefishing

When endangered sharks unique to Australian waters end up on our plates as 'flake', you know we've got problems in our own backyard. I make comment for Guardian Australia 👇 Below are solutions to improve conservation outcomes, environmental performance of fisheries, and consumer rights. - Robust independent monitoring program that accurately reflects fishing activity in time and space. Electronic monitoring (EM; i.e. cameras on vessels) is likely to be a cost-effective approach to obtain data that minimises interactions with threatened, endangered and protected species (TEPS), and assists the sustainable management of target and byproduct stocks. Independent scientific human observers should complement use of EM to validate EM results in the interim of their full implementation across a fishery, and facilitate ongoing scientific samples TEPS and commercially important stock. - Implementation of ‘mortality trigger limits’ support protection and recovery of TEPS populations and are made effective with the combined use of EM. Once limits are breached, spatio-temporal management can be implemented at a biologically relevant scale that does not put the population on a declining trajectory. - Robust quota management and comprehensive harvest strategies for sharks and rays are necessary to ensure stocks are at healthy levels. To best quantify and manage stocks (and by extension, harvest strategy responses) species-specific reporting of catch (including discards) combined with the use of EM can greatly improve quality and quantity of data. Importantly, sufficient resources need to be allocated to fishery management and scientific bodies to undertake elasmobranch stock assessments. - In the hypothetical event a (shark) fishery includes all the measures above, current state and/or federal legislation does not and cannot provide confidence to the consumer (and retailer, in some cases) that the shark product they are consuming is accurately labelled as the species being offered, is not an endangered species, or is from a fishery that meets the highest environmental standards. Unfortunately, the gaps in legislation undermine any efforts made by a responsible fisher who wishes to offer a point of difference in the marketplace with respect to their shark product, and does not incentivise other fisheries to improve their environmental performance with respect to shark product. Mandating the Australian Fish Names Standard is crucial first step in this regard. It is important to note that whilst accurate labelling and traceability are important issues to resolve, they do not address the root cause - improving fishing practices and management to best prevent the capture of TEPS (including elasmobranch species) in the first place. In short, if we dont fish FOR the future, we wont be fishing IN the future. https://lnkd.in/gAKSRxeS

Jellyfish blooms can have a devastating impact on commercial and artisanal fisheries. Jellyfish, in large numbers, can compete with fish for food and, in some cases, directly prey on fish larvae. This can lead to a decrease in fish populations and, consequently, reduced catches for fishermen. In addition, jellyfish can fill fishing nets, making them heavy and difficult to manoeuvre, damaging them or rendering them unusable. #jellyfish #sustainability #bluetransformation #blueeconomy

Kenya rolls out poison in bid to cull a million crows: “Invasive alien birds” sounds like the strapline to a scary Hollywood blockbuster but for the people of coastal Kenya it is not a matter of fiction. The authorities there are so worried about the nuisance created by Indian house crows that they have begun the process of culling a million of them. They have not targeted humans, as in the Alfred Hitchock horror film The Birds, but these ones have for decades caused widespread disruption, by preying on wildlife, raiding tourist areas and attacking poultry farms. Poison is now being used in the towns of Watamu and Malindi to kill the first tranche of the ruthless sub-species. This ambitious poisoning campaign is aimed at halting the crows’ advance towards the capital, Nairobi. The birds, known on the coast as “kunguru” or “kurabu”, originated from India and other parts of Asia, often spreading elsewhere by travelling on trading ships. But they are believed to have been intentionally introduced in East Africa around 1890s in a bid to tackle a mounting waste problem on the Zanzibar archipelago, then a British protectorate. From there, they spread to the mainland and up the coast to Kenya. The Indian house crows feed mostly on meat They were first recorded in the port of Mombasa in 1947 and since then, their numbers have exploded, thanks to the growing human population and the accompanying mounds of rubbish, which provide an ideal environment for the birds to feed and breed. They also have no natural predators. The Indian house crows, considered one of the world’s most invasive and destructive birds, have continued their northward journey. “They prey on the indigenous species, not just birds but also mammals, reptiles – and so their impact on biodiversity is devastating,” Jaap Gijsbertsen, a Dutch bird expert, who is visiting Kenya’s Watamu area, told the BBC. Conservationists say that the crows have significantly reduced the number of small indigenous birds in the region, such as weavers and waxbills, by ripping their nests apart while targeting eggs and even chicks. “When the population of local birds declines, the environment begins to suffer. There will be a possible increase of harmful pests and insects that the birds prey on,” Lennox Kirao, a research scientist with conservation group A Rocha Kenya, said. They also damage crops, livestock and chickens. “They pounce on chicks and eat them like madmen. These are not normal birds, they act wildly,” said Eunice Katana, a resident of Takaye village in Kilifi county. They are also known to use a unique sound to communicate distress – or when they spot a prey, according to Mr Kirao. The birds have defaced houses in Mombasa by defecating on the walls and roofs, while many people shy away from sitting under tree shades for fear of being dirtied by their droppings. “These crows rise early and…

#fishercats #habitaloss #endangered #extinction #lossofwetlands #humandepredeation #cultureofdeath #anthropocentrism #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus THE STARK REALITY: In Bangladesh, fishing cats often find themselves in direct conflict with humans due to shrinking wetlands and expanding villages. As their natural habitats disappear, these elusive creatures venture closer to human settlements, leading to tragic encounters. HOW MANIFESTED?: Fear drives these killings. Locals often mistake fishing cats for tigers and feel threatened. Social pressure and the desire for revenge for livestock losses, usually caused by other animals, further fuel these conflicts. AND THE USUAL HUMAN DEPREDATION: Fishing cats’ habitats are rapidly disappearing due to human activities. Asia lost 32% of its natural wetlands between 1970 and 2015, primarily due to agriculture, aquaculture, and palm oil plantations, Forbes reports. AND THE USUAL RECOMMENDED PABLUM: Conservationists emphasize the need for increased awareness and community involvement. Empowering local populations to protect these cats and their habitats can lead to sustainable conservation solutions. As Adhya [project leader] told Mongabay News, “The entire bigger vision is to link the healthy wetlands to fishing cat conservation and human sustenance.” YOUR LONE SOLUTION, IF YOU WILL KEEP IT: A reverence for life is an ethos of active human involvement in life, of serving as stewards of nature, of life, of all God's creatures. There is but one "sustainable conservation solution", and that is loving human superintendence of this shared planet. Let us replace a culture of death with a culture of life, killing creatures because they incommode us with protecting creatures simply becuase they exist, being the cause of the demise of God's creation with being the reason for its flowering and thriving. That is bestowing the love of Jesus universally. That is a reverence for life. Potestas Christi urget nos!

#sharks #fishing #depletion #exploitation #carnism #anthropocentrism #degradation #biophilia #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG: Brazil, now a global leader in shark meat consumption, faces criticism from scientists and conservationists alike. The demand for shark meat has escalated, fueling unsustainable fishing practices that endanger numerous species. BUT WITH A DIFFERENT MEANING SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE: Despite efforts to curb practices like finning, where sharks are harvested solely for their fins, mortality rates remain alarming. This voracious appetite for shark meat coincides with dwindling fish stocks, compounding environmental pressures. AND IT BREAKS ME UP TO HEAR IT: As Brazil debates legislative measures to enhance transparency and restrict trade, stakeholders stress the need for informed consumer choices and greater ecological awareness. Amidst global Conservation efforts, the fate of Brazil’s sharks hangs in the balance. MANKIND'S ONLY SALVATION: A reverence for life is an ethos that, inter alia, imposes upon humans the solemn duty of stewardship of all life, all nature, all God's creatures. We are bidden to protect, assist, and enhance life, all life, ever seeking ways of permitting life to thrive, ever eschewing conduct that restrains, harms, or annihilates life. "Informed consumer choices and greater ecological awareness" are subsumed under and distilled into this: "The idea of reverence for life contains everything that expresses love, submission, compassion, the sharing of joy, and common striving for the good of all. We must free ourselves from thoughtless existence." That is conferring the love of Jesus universally. That is a reverence for life.

What could a regenerated ocean look like? Re-imagining abundance means looking back many generations and acknowledging how degraded our seas have become. A study of historical records for the Irish Sea coast of #wales going back 800 years charts the lost riches from our seas, showing a transition from herring and a range of demersal fish in the 18th and early 20th century, to almost exclusive reliance on invertebrates by the 21st century. "In stark contrast to their present-day absence, significant herring fisheries were present around the study area from at least the 13th century to the mid-20th century. In the 1700s, one large catch on a single night at Aberystwyth was quantified as 1.36 million herrings (≥136 tonnes), and vast shoals and great abundance were reported across north Wales. In the 19th century, similarly productive fisheries were very often reported, and gluts of herring were sometimes used as manure on fields. Consistent with these are accounts up to the mid-20th century of shoals ‘up to seven miles in length’ and large catches nearly capsizing boats. This seasonal abundance of small fish prey supported a wealth of diverse vertebrate predators. Herring was pursued by ‘thousands of #seabirds’, #sharks, large teleost fish and marine mammals, including ‘great shoals of #dolphins and porpoises’. Turbot attained a large maximum size: on the Anglesey coast they were ‘3 foot long’, and ‘…turbots of a large size… found in our neighborhood…brought to me… weighed twenty-two pounds [10 kg]’. Around the mid-19th century, Caernarfon and Cardigan bays respectively boasted ‘…a great quantity of very beautiful soles, and turbot, and other fish of that sort’ and ‘…an immense quantity of sole, and turbot…’. Now there are no significant targeted fisheries for flatfishes around north Wales; for example, annual turbot landings by inshore vessels for the whole area averaged <40 kg per year for 2016–2020. The shifting baselines concept should be the starting point for discussions about future preferred states and policies for moving towards this, rather than for looking back to a previous ‘healthy baseline’. Failing to recognise the relevance of historical loss to fishes and #fisheries and accept the status quo of recent years, may increase the risk of further degradation and #ecosystem management failures. Achieving resilient, stable, multi-species and sustainable fisheries may be far more likely where food webs and #ecosystems are more intact and closer to pre-exploitation baselines and more distant from today's degraded status." https://lnkd.in/ewyFVa4k

🐯 Did you know that #curcuma, #peppermint, and #chillis can play a transformative role in regions with high human-wildlife conflicts? These crops act as natural repellents, deterring animals like tigers and elephants, which in turn saves human lives. 🐘 During my first weeks at Helvetas, I had an incredible opportunity to visit the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, a truly awe-inspiring and biodiverse region in northern India. While it's heartening to witness the recovery of flagship species like tigers, rhinos, river dolphins, elephants, and leopards, the close coexistence of humans and wildlife often leads to what is known as human-wildlife conflicts. 💥 The Katarniaghat region has unfortunately gained notoriety as one of the hotspots for human-wildlife conflicts in India, resulting in alarming instances such as: - Farmers facing life-threatening encounters with tigers in their fields. - Elephant herds demolishing crops, sometimes causing 100% yield loss. - Wild boars ravaging farmers' hard-earned harvests. - Leopards sheltering in sugarcane fields, posing a threat to farmers. 🍃 To address these challenges, Helvetas, in collaboration with Reismühle Nutrex, Coop, NATURE BIO FOODS and Partners in Prosperity, is undertaking a groundbreaking landscape project in the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary. Our mission is multi-faceted, with a key objective being the reduction of human-wildlife conflicts. In order to achieve this, we are actively seeking partners interested in sourcing organic and/or fairtrade curcuma/turmeric, peppermint or chillies. 🌿 By encouraging the cultivation of these wildlife-repellent crops in the region, we can pave the way for a sustainable solution. By replacing non-repellent crops like wheat or sugarcane, we not only protect livelihoods but we also actively contribute to maintaining harmony between humans and wildlife. 👉 If you or anyone you know is interested in supporting this cause or can help connect us with potential buyers for these unique crops, your support would be invaluable. 💚 Together, let's build a future where coexistence thrives, human lives are saved, and the beauty of this biodiverse region is preserved for generations to come.   #Conservation #WildlifeProtection #SustainableLivelihoods