Scotland bins HPMA plans
While visiting the Azores for a conference , Shark Trust MD Paul Cox took time to reacquaint himself with the sharks of the open ocean
Fishing communities in Scotland lobbied against HPMAs
Scotland bins HPMA plans
Plans to implement flagship marine conservation areas have been scrapped following a consultation . The Scottish Government had wanted to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas ( HPMA ) which would prevent all fishing and dredging in 10 % of Scotland ’ s coastal waters . Earlier this year , the Government said proposals would not progress in their previous form but remained committed to further protecting marine life .
Following a consultation , Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan announced that the revised plans would not progress . They had come in for widespread criticism due to potential impact on fishing communities , particularly in Scotland ’ s coastal areas and islands .
Singing the Blues
While visiting the Azores for a conference , Shark Trust MD Paul Cox took time to reacquaint himself with the sharks of the open ocean
Sometimes you get lucky . This year I got lucky . I go to a lot of conferences and meetings . It ’ s how we get to meet people , promote our work and generate new partnerships . Sometimes meetings are held in less glamorous locations . I ’ m naming no names , but let ’ s just say I ’ ve been to some uninspiring cities in my time . And marvelled at why someone , somewhere thought it would be a good place to bring people together .
But this year , I got lucky . The EUAC ( European Union of Aquarium Curators ) decided to hold a conference in Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores . If you ’ ve been there , you know the deal . If you ’ ve not , give it a go . It ’ s a spectacular spot out there in the mid-Atlantic . Beautiful island , great food , lovely people and … the diving .
The highlight , by a country mile , was diving with blue sharks in perfect , clear blue waters . I ’ ve snorkelled with blues in the UK , and that ’ s a pretty memorable experience . But this was another level . They ’ re just the most extraordinary sharks . Inquisitive , fearless , lovable and seriously beautiful .
And they remain at the centre of our advocacy activity . And that was the real
reason for my visit . My goal was to drum up support for our Big Shark Pledge campaign . Blues are one of 31 species of oceanic sharks that face an existential threat due to high seas fisheries . Poor management and excessive fishing pressure is having a massive impact – 71 % decline in shark populations in my lifetime . This management must be improved . That ’ s the clear aim of our campaign , and we ’ re making progress . But we have much to do , and public support is vital .
It brings home the importance of this work when you spend a week in a place dominated by the open ocean . Where whales , sharks , tuna and mobula rays straddle the narrow strip between the coast and the deep blue . And where fisheries continue to push some of these species towards their end .
It might sound like a jolly but it was a super-valuable experience for me . An experience which has strengthened my resolve to do what it takes to achieve success for oceanic sharks . And part of that is to talk about it at every opportunity . So there you go .
Find out more and support the campaign at bigsharkpledge . org www . sharktrust . org
Blue shark in the Azores , photo by Paul Cox
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