Protecting Sharks Against Overfishing

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission has just adopted targeted shark conservation efforts that may help protect a range of shark species.

“Sharks won for the very first time at the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission,” says Iris Ziegler, head of fisheries policies and ocean advocacy at the German Foundation for Marine Conservation.

Sharks are highly vulnerable to overfishing and have long recovery times. Some shark species take approximately 20 years to reach sexual maturity, have comparatively lengthy gestation periods of around a year, and produce relatively few offspring. It is estimated that a third of shark species face the threat of extinction. The new measures will prohibit fishers from keeping sharks that have been caught as bycatch, curb finning of sharks, and restrict the use of harmful fishing gear. Conservationists view the move as a significant win for sharks and a step toward more sustainable fishing practices in the Indian Ocean.