President Trump signed an executive order that opens up commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage National Marine Monument, covering about 490,000 square miles of ocean southwest of Hawaii. The removal of protected status under Executive Order has been proved in court under the last Trump Administration to violate the Antiquities Act. New litigation from environmental groups is pending in response to the Executive Order.
Read MoreNOAA Considers New Rule to Increase Protection Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
In a public hearing August 20-21 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted hearings seeking comments on a proposed rule to extend protective regulations for threatened oceanic whitetip sharks under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act. The public can submit comments on the rule until Sept. 15.
Read MoreGear Changes in Pacific Fleet Shine Ray of Hope for Critically Endangered Sharks
An announcement in 2020 by the Hawaii Longline Association to ban the use of wire leaders in the tuna fleet’s fishing equipment paved the way to help save the imperiled oceanic whitetip shark from extinction.
Read MoreYear End Report 2022
Shark Stewards had a tremendously successful year in 2022.
We want to thank our board members, supporters and volunteers for helping us continue to save sharks and their habitat in 2023!
New Hawaii Shark Regulation Implemented To Protect Pacific Sharks
A new regulation prohibiting the use of wire leaders in longline fisheries is expected to increase the survival of hooked oceanic whitetip sharks by up to 30%.
Read MoreVICTORY! NOAA Bans Deadly Wire Leaders in Hawaiian Fishery
I am in strong support of the new rules prohibiting the use of wire leader within 1 meter of any hook deployed in Hawaiian deep set longline fishery.
Threatened Oceanic whitetip sharks ( Carcharhinus longimanus) and Silky Sharks (Carcharhinus falciformus) are especially impacted by this gear. Under the Endangered species Act, National Marine Fisheries has already committed to zero retention of oceanic whitetip sharks, and tis rule will help achieve that in US waters.
Eliminating this gear will protect sharks, increase safety for fishermen and limit harmful trailing line and ensure a hight survival rate of these threatened sharks.
Read MoreBipartisan Bill to End Lethal Driftnet Fishery in the United States
The California driftnet fishery is responsible for the annual killing of thousands of innocent seabirds, marine mammals and sharks in California waters and is the only fishery where these harmful nets are still used in the United States.
Read More