The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, has appointed an Expert Panel on Sharks to review the management and conservation of the species by South Africa.
The nine-member panel comprising of national and international experts will review South Africa’s National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA Sharks) over a three-month period to determine whether the plan is effective and where improvements need to be made.
It will recommend actions needed to properly manage and conserve all shark species found along the South African coast, and to guide their long-term sustainable use
The Panel comprises the following national and international experts:
- Prof. Dr. Sven Kerwath, Specialist Scientist: Finfish (Linefish, Tuna and Sharks), Branch: Fisheries Management, DEFF (Chair)
- Dr. Charlene da Silva, Scientist: Shark Resources Research, Branch: Fisheries Management, DEFF (Convenor),
- Mr Saasa Pheeha, Chief Director (Acting) Marine Resource Management, Branch: Fisheries Management, DEFF,
- Ms Sarika Singh, Scientist: Marine Biodiversity Research, Branch: Oceans and Coasts, DEFF,
- Ms Zintle Langa, Branch: Oceans and Coasts, DEFF,
- Dr. Kerry Sink, Marine Programme Manager and Principal Scientist, SANBI
- Dr. Alison Kock, SANParks
- Dr. Andres Domingo, Director: Large Pelagic Fisheries, National Department of Aquatic Resources, Uruguay.
- Subcommittee for Ecosystems and By-Catch Mitigation at International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
- Dr. Rishi Sharma, Fisheries Scientist, FAO.
South Africa’s NPOA Sharks was developed in line with the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA) and implemented in 2013.
A local review of the Plan was completed in 2018 and identified a number of areas that require further attention as the country works to improve the management of shark species found in our coastal waters. This review will be guided by the aims of the IPOA.
These include ensuring that shark catches from direct and non-direct fisheries are sustainable, that unutilised incidental shark catches are minimised, and that species-specific catch and landing data, and the monitoring of shark catches, are improved.
Minimising waste and discards from shark catches in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which requires the retention of sharks from which fins are removed, and the full use of dead sharks are amongst its aims.
It also requires the assessment of direct threats to shark populations, finding ways to protect critical habitats and implement harvesting strategies that are biologically sustainable and rational for long-term economic use. Particular attention is given to vulnerable or threatened shark stocks.
In terms of the IPOA, countries are required to improve and develop frameworks for establishing and co-ordinating effective consultation involving all stakeholders in research, management and educational initiatives within and between States.
Because of the Covid-19 outbreak, and lockdowns in many countries worldwide, the review will be done remotely, with the panel meeting via webinars and other means of electronic communication to collate their findings.
A final report will be submitted to the Minister for consideration within three months from the panel commencing their deliberations by the beginning of October 2020.
Image credit: Getaway gallery
