Government adds three sharks to migratory species list

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts reports the porbeagle, longfin mako and shortfin mako sharks will be listed as migratory species under national environmental law, as of January 29, 2010.

This listing is a mandatory legal requirement following their listing under the Convention on Migratory Species — an international conservation agreement to which Australia is a party, says the Government.

Commercial fishing operations will not be permitted to take these species unless they are acting in accordance with management arrangements accredited under the EPBC Act. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is working with fisheries managers to ensure that their management arrangements include all reasonable measures to avoid killing or injuring these species.

The Government is aware that the listing of mako sharks in particular could have significant implications for recreational and game fishers. Killing or injuring these species will not be permitted. However, in line with the Department’s Compliance and Enforcement Policy, properly managed catch and release activities which would not have a detrimental effect on the species are unlikely to be a priority for enforcement action.

Fishing personality and TrailerBoat contributor Al McGlashan said these developments would benefit recreational fishos. “…it sounds like public pressure is prevailing with not only this but also those misguided marine parks,” McGlashan said on his blog. “Garret’s department really does make it obvious that they don’t like Australia’s 3.6 million anglers!”

Visit www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/sharks/publications/fs-three-sharks.html for more information.