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- Objectives
- Develop best handling and release practice guidelines for sharks captured in IATTC fisheries
- Background
- The Commission during the 101st meeting adopted Resolution C-23-07 on the Protection and Sustainable Management of Sharks. Section 12 of the Resolution requires the staff in collaboration with the IATTC SAC and EBWG, to develop and recommend to the Commission a set of best handling guidelines for the safe release of sharks for inclusion in this measure in 2024. Handling and release practices have been shown to have significant impacts on survival outcomes for discarded species. Therefore, accurate guidance on handling and release practices that maximize the potential for survival post release for prioritized species is desirable across IATTC fisheries.
- Relevance for management
- Improved handling and release practices will reduce the impact of IATTC fisheries on vulnerable species and populations
- Duration
- 12 months
- Workplan and status
- Because good data exists on handling impacts survival for sharks captured in longline and purse seine fisheries, a review of available data, literature, recommendations, and information and domestic guidelines provided by the CPCs to the staff has been compiled to derive evidence driven BHRP guidelines for IATTC fisheries, which are presented to the EBWG-02 and SAC-15 for review and refinement prior to provision to the 102nd Commission meeting for consideration for adoption and inclusion in C-23-07.
- External collaborators
- CPCs, fishing organizations, global experts
- Deliverables
- SAC-15-11: Best Handling and Release Practices guidelines for sharks captured across IATTC fisheries with tool requirements for consideration for adoption during the 102nd Commission meeting.