Sharks put at risk
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is deeply disappointed about the Australian Government's decision to back down on protecting some of our most vulnerable shark species. Minister Garrett, MP was due to list three migratory shark species under federal environment legislation, but has today backed down due to pressure from the recreational and charter shark fishing sectors.
"Australia's national environment legislation (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999) cannot be watered down on a whim to pander to the wishes of the recreational and charter fishing sector," said Darren Kindleysides, AMCS Director.
"The legislation's prime duty and responsibility is to protect Australia's wonderful and valuable marine wildlife," Kindleysides said.
These sharks have been internationally listed as protected under the international Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), to which Australia is a signatory. The CMS has listed the shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle as species requiring urgent international conservation action.
"As a signatory to the CMS, Australia is duty bound to protect these sharks under our federal legislation, but we have spectacularly failed with this announcement," said Kindleysides.
"We have an international commitment to protect our vulnerable sharks. The world has acted to protect these migratory species, and we are letting both our sharks and the international community down," said Kindleysides.
Sharks play a vital role in healthy marine ecosystems. However, there is a worldwide trend of declining shark populations. The global declines for the three species in question here have been so severe that all are now listed as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN.
