SSACN and SOS return from Brussels

[Ian Burrett]

The 3rd Shark Alliance meeting

 

Ian Burrett and Denis Kelly representing Save our Sharks (SOS) and SSACN have just returned from Brussels where they attended the third Shark Alliance members meeting.

 

They attended various workshops at the meeting and helped make plans for the 2008 European Shark Week. Last years European Shark week resulted in over 20,000 signatures demanding sensible shark management being handed in to the EU Commission.

 

Attending organisations were encouraged to make representations to their countries’ permanent secretaries to raise the profile of the CPOA; an action plan being developed by the commission, which hopefully will provide greater protection for Europe’s sharks.

 

Denis and Ian, along with Nigel Proctor of SACN, met up with the UK permanent secretary David Trip and gave a short presentation, congratulated Defra on their proactive approach to shark management and highlighted their disappointment that Scotland was undermining Defra’s fine work by refusing to unilaterally protect its native sharks and particularly the endangered tope.

 

A ridiculous situation has arisen where it is possible for commercial fishermen to target the packs of tope north of the imaginary line in the Solway and only a daily 45kg bycatch south of the border. The numbers have halved throughout UK waters in recent years. The Scottish government have said they will keep an eye on things but the tope packs could be eradicated before legislation could be brought in place.

 

David was very attentive and promised to pass on our concerns.

 

NB - The Shark Alliance is a not-for-profit coalition of over 50 NGOs dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving European fishing policy, their mission is two-fold:

 

* To close loopholes in European policy regarding the wasteful and unsustainable practice of shark finning

* To secure responsible, science-based shark fishing limits for long-term sustainability and ecosystem health.