No Protection – recreational fishers blamed! – Minister Garrett has decided not to list the porbeagle, longfin mako and shortfin mako sharks under Australia’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC), despite current legislation requiring this when a species is listed under the Convention for Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
Some environmental groups including HSI and WWF have stated that the recreational fishing lobby have convinced Minister Garret to change the law rather than list Mako sharks as a migratory species. Apparently: “Recreational fishing and charter boat operators from Torquay and around Port Phillip Bay last month lobbied for a reverse on the ban, saying it would destroy the local industry to the tune of $150 million a year.”
Catch and release fishing is not and should not be the target of a migratory species listing. Unchecked and indiscriminate longline fishing raping the ocean, disturbing.. Changing the EPBC Act to not protect wildlife, priceless.
Achival
ACT BY 15TH JANUARY 2009
Shark species worldwide are facing numerous threats. Sharks are inherently vulnerable to over-fishing because they grow slowly, are late to mature and produce relatively few young. Species, such as the shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks, are in trouble across the world, and particularly in places such as the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Oceans.
The Government’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties is currently investigating the proposed listing of three shark species – the shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks, under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) as migratory species.mako
This follows the listing of these three species at the end of 2008 in the Appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Listing under Appendix II of CMS encourages much needed international cooperation to work towards the conservation of these species.
The committee is currently inviting comments on the listing of these species, by 15th January 2010. Environment Minister Peter Garrett has suggested that the catch and release by recreational fishers will not have a significant impact on populations of these species. We are asking that you also write expressing your views in support of migratory species listing.
Learn More
Isurus is a genus of mackerel sharks in the family Lamnidae, commonly known as the mako sharks. There are two living species, the common shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the rare longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus), and several extinct species known from fossils. They range in length from 9 to 15 feet, and have an average weight of 1,750 lbs. The Lamnidae family also includes sharks such as the great white shark and porbeagle. (Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isurus)
Shortfin Mako
The shortfin mako is a wide-ranging oceanic and pelagic shark. The shortfin mako is probably the fastest of all sharks and can grow to almost 4 metres. The shortfin mako is widespread in Australian waters, but is rarely found in water below 16oC. Right: Shortfin distribution
Longfin Mako
The longfin mako is a widely distributed, but rarely encountered oceanic tropical shark. longfinrangeThe longfin mako is often confused with its slightly more slender-bodied relative, the shortfin mako. The longfin mako can grow to just over 4 meters and is found in Australian waters south to Geraldton in Western Australia and to at least Port Stephens in New South Wales. Right Longfin distribution