U.S. National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Shark Resources Craig Heberer Fisheries Biologist NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region Long Beach, California craig.heberer@noaa.gov www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
U.S. National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Shark Resources z
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Framework Plan for NOAA Fisheries guiding domestic and international management efforts (FMCs, RFMOs) U.S. NPOA implemented February 2001 −
Consistent with federal legislation (MSRA) z
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Capacity building, sustainable stocks, IUU measures
Builds upon National Standards of MSRA
U.S. NPOA Elements z
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Development of Conservation Measures −
Domestic regulations (annual catch limits, overfishing rules, no finning-5% rule (SFA 2001), time/area closures, critical habitat)
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International resolutions and treaties with UN SFR, CITIES, RFMOs, bi-laterals (capacity controls, data reporting, compliance)
Data Collection −
Fishery dependent (logbooks for target and nontarget catches used in stock assessments)
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Fishery independent (observer program for bycatch and research for gear modifications)
Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2001 z
Annual report to U.S. Congress −
Elements of NPOA
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Conservation and Management Effectiveness
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Research and Monitoring Activities
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International Efforts – Capacity building
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Report available on-line z
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/
U.S. NPOA Elements z
Reduce Bycatch – MSRA priority −
Cooperative research with industry on gear and methods research (circle hooks, bait switch, chemical and physical deterents)
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National Bycatch Report (under construction)
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Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program z z
Funds allocated and proposals up and running Export technology (field trials of circle hooks in Uruguay, Italy, Brasil)
U.S. NPOA Elements z
For West Coast HMS Fisheries −
Harvest limits for thresher, blue, and mako shark fisheries
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Prohibitions on catch for great white, basking, and megamouth sharks
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Observer programs
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Research on survivorship studies in both commercial and recreational fisheries
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Landings monitor and reporting programs (public can access data via internet)
U.S. NPOA Elements z
Hawaii Longline Swordfish Fishery −
Use of circle hooks and mackerel bait has reduced sea turtle mortalities and improved survivorship of hooked and released sharks
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98% blue sharks released alive based on observer data