Proposed protections for shortfin mako sharks fell short after the European Union and the United States refused to back the measures during this year’s the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Mallorca, Spain.
Ten countries, including Canada and Senegal, backed the measure to ban the retention of seriously overfished North Atlantic Shortfin Makos by commercial fishing vessels. The EU and US refused to support the measure which would eliminate the landing for hundreds of tons of the endangered sharks.
“North Atlantic mako depletion is among the world’s most pressing shark conservation crises,” said Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates International. “A clear and simple remedy was within reach. Yet the EU and US put short-term fishing interests above all else and ruined a golden opportunity for real progress. It’s truly disheartening and awful.”
According to ICCAT scientists, populations of makos could take four or five decades to recover, even if fishing stops. Shortfin Makos are particularly valuable sharks, sought for meat, fins, and sport. Slow growth makes them exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing.
“Amid the pathetic failure for mako sharks, steadfast leadership by Canada and Senegal provided conservationists with inspiration to carry on with the fight,” said Shannon Arnold, Marine Program Coordinator for Ecology Action Centre. “The Shark League will continue to work with the world’s emerging shark champions to encourage more countries to place long-term conservation over short-term economic gain and ensure North Atlantic makos are protected before it’s too late.”