Experts on Tuesday discussed the issue of declining species of shark and suggested that the concerned NPOA and RPOA should focus on conservation and management of sharks with particular emphasis on improving species-specific landings and other data, such as on species' movements.
Speaking at a three-day workshop on 'Shark Conservation in the Northern Indian Ocean,' they stressed on seeking regional collaboration, research and monitoring of the conservation of the key marine vertebrates in Northern Indian Ocean (NIO).
The event was organised by World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) at a hotel, where the experts said that a National Plan of Action (NPOA) and Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) are required in line with the Food and Agriculture Organisation's International Plan of Action (IPOA) and that should be based on a robust scientific data. They suggested such instruments should be formulated on a comprehensive consultation process with all stakeholders. Promotion of a sustainable tourism is also needed to conserve shark species populations that are facing a decline, they said.
"Sindh government will make all possible efforts to conserve dwindling population of sharks in Pakistani waters and support such steps at national and regional level," said Sindh Minister for Environment and Coastal Development Muhammad Taimur Talpur. He lamented vanishing shark species due to various threats. 'We need to stop illegal catch of sharks and introduce sustainable fishing practices', he proposed.
Sharing a global perspective, Andy Cornish, Shark Leader at WWF said that despite international concerns on overexploitation of sharks and rays, the latest estimates are that 25 percent are now threatened with extinction. He said international shark experts had reached the conclusion that lack of species' specific data and reluctance to set science-based catch limits are key challenges in this regard and immediate corrective measures and close regional collaboration are needed to overcome it.
Umair Shahid, Indian Ocean Tuna Manager WWF-Mozambique said the by-catch of sharks in the Indian Ocean fisheries is a growing concern as more sharks end up as discards while remaining end up being consumed in different markets. He said that the workshop would provide a platform to shark experts, marine conservationists and fisheries managers belonging to the region to deliberate and develop appropriate Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) for sharks and rays in the Northern Indian Ocean which can be proposed to be adopted by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
Dr Babar Khan, Director Conservation, WWF-Pakistan cited that recent International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Group report showed one-third of open-ocean shark species are in danger of extinction in the next few decades while, many others have had population declines of over 90 per cent in the last few decades. He stressed the need to control and eventually stop unsustainable shark fishing by banning shark fin soup or implement by-catch reduction policies.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan said it is high time that Pakistan should develop a national plan of action and also contribute to regional plan of action for shark conservation. He said 144 species of sharks and rays were found in Pakistani waters.
The WWF-Pakistan is working in close collaboration with provincial fisheries departments to help promulgate legislation for protection of sharks, mobulids, guitar fishes and other endangered and threatened species. "Under its Observer Programme, WWF-Pakistan has safely released a number of elasmo branches, including 98 whale sharks, 79 mobulids and 9 rays", he said.
Representatives from WWF-Hong Kong, Maldives, Sri Lanka, IOTC and International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) made presentations and shared experiences about conservation of sharks in Northern Indian Ocean. They proposed regional plan of action that can help protect these species. ISSF Policy Consultant Claire van der Geest, Shelly Clarke; Andrea Pauly, Associate Programme Officer / Coordinator Sharks MoU UNEP/CMS; Muhammad Farhan Khan, Assistant Commissioner Fisheries, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Dr Shoaib Kiyani, Assistant Professor, Institute of Marine Science, University of Karachi also spoke on the occasion.