Shark Bycatch and RFMOs
Longline Guidebook
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter Objectives
- Section 1: Sea Turtles
- Sea Turtle Identification
- Mitigating Turtle Bycatch
- Other Mitigation Methods
- Best Practices Infographic
- Examples of Hooked Turtles
- Dehooking or Untangling a Turtle
- Tools for Turtle Handling
- Dehooking or Untangling Techniques in Water
- Dehooking or Untangling Techniques on Board
- Turtle Recovery and Release
- Section 2: Seabirds
- Commonly Encountered Seabirds
- Identifying Seabirds
- Seabird Species
- Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Measures
- Bird-Scaring Lines
- Night Setting
- Weighted Branch Lines
- Line Weighting Smart Gear Prize
- Hook Shielding and Bait Setting Devices
- Other Measures
- Handling and Release
- Hook Removal and Seabird Recovery
- Seabird Interactions and Best Practices
- Section 3: Sharks
- Commonly Encountered Sharks
- Shark Bycatch and RFMOs
- Shark Bycatch Mitigation Measures
- Shark Anatomy, Handling, and Release
- Releasing Sharks Caught in Pelagic Longline Fisheries
- Proper Handling of Sharks
- Incorrect Shark Handling and Release
- Final Notes
- Chapter 3
- Chapter Objectives
- International Organizations and Instruments
- Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
- Western And Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
- Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
- Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna
- Further Notes on Data Reporting and Compliance
- Conclusion
- Feedback Form
- Copyright
All five tuna RFMOs have established some requirements for longline fishing vessels to reduce shark bycatch. For example, all tuna RFMOs prohibit the practice of shark finning, require the application of best practices for shark safe release, and prohibit the retention of particular shark species depending on the Ocean.
Some tuna RFMOs require landing the sharks with fins naturally attached. Others require longline vessels targeting tuna and billfish to choose between either not using wire trace as branch lines, shark lines, or both, depending on the area.
Shark Finning
Shark finning is the practice of retaining shark fins and discarding the remaining carcass while at sea. The practice is against the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, as well as the resolutions of a number of other international marine bodies including the tuna RFMOs, all of which call for minimizing waste and discards.
There are major uncertainties about the total quantity and species of sharks caught, and shark finning has added to this problem.
ISSF Conservation Measure 3.1 has called on the fishing industry to adopt policies prohibiting shark finning and to land sharks with fins naturally attached, if retained. All tuna fishery operators should prohibit shark finning, and should retain, land, and report all sharks caught with fins naturally attached, except for species that are prohibited by national law or RFMO regulations, or those individual sharks that are released alive.
While there are several strategies for shark bycatch mitigation currently being promoted, RFMOs have not advocated the use of one mitigation measure over another. Here we list some of the techniques that have been shown to be effective in reducing the catch of sharks.