LED lights reduce bycatch
A recent study by marine biologists has found that the addition of inexpensive LED lights to gill nets reduces bycatch by about 63 %. In field tests , the lit nets caught 51 % fewer turtles , 81 % fewer squid and 95 % fewer sharks and rays . This was achieved without reducing the intended catch , which conservationists hope will make it easier to persuade fishermen to adopt these practices .
PHOTO : SIMON ROGERSON
For the love of sharks
The Shark Trust celebrates its 25th anniversary this year ... but the struggle continues , says Managing Director Paul Cox
Not saying we forgot , just that we ’ ve been a bit pre-occupied over the last couple of years . Suddenly it ’ s 2022 and we have something of a birthday to celebrate . 25 years of the Shark Trust ! 25 years of progress ( sometimes slow but progress nevertheless ) towards our goal . As tends to happen with anniversaries , it gives us an opportunity to look back , remember those who have helped us along the way , and celebrate all that ’ s happened over the years .
As I said in the March issue piece , it can be difficult to celebrate success in conservation . There ’ s always more to do , another hill to climb . But it ’ s really important to try . Not least so that people who support the cause can feel that change actually is possible .
From humble beginnings , a couple of people sharing a desk in an old ice cream parlour , the Trust has grown and flourished . There are certainly more of us , we have offices and a desk each . But that ’ s maybe not the kind of success that our supporters are interested in – that ’ s just logistics . What about sharks ? They ’ re still being killed at an alarming rate . According to a report released late last year , a third of shark and ray species are now considered “ at risk of extinction ” based on updated IUCN Red List statuses . That figure was estimated at a quarter in 2014 . So , it seems , the trend is still downward .
But there is cause for hope . A good proportion of our first 15 years were dedicated to a ban on finning in Europe . Having secured the first ban in 2003 , seven further years were needed to tighten up and close loopholes .
This was a huge mobilization of NGO partners and public support across EU nations . In 2013 , in a landmark regulation , this succeeded . All boats in the EU fishing fleet , one of the largest on the planet , are now obliged to bring all sharks to port with their fins attached to their bodies . That ’ s a massive step forward . Not only does it outlaw the cruel and wasteful practice of finning , but it also ushers in the capturing of more data ( or evidence , if you like ) about what is being caught and where . This allows scientists to do their jobs , generating sound evidence for further actions . Only with that evidence could we make subsequent progress ; including placing restrictions on the numbers of blue sharks caught , and a ban on the catch of mako sharks in the North Atlantic .
These landmarks pave the way for more . Like a snowball gathering momentum , each step forward enables us to build new partnerships , to make our voice louder and to generate more positive change for sharks and rays . The excessive and damaging fishing of sharks sadly continues . But there is a growing movement of people and organisations working together to end it . Will we still be needed when our 50th anniversary comes around ? Who knows ? Maybe we ’ ll have morphed into a glorified travel company by then . But , for now , we ’ ve got shark conservation to do .
So please , send us your Shark Love Stories to caroline @ sharktrust . org and we ’ ll help you share your moments with the world . www . sharktrust . org
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