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 MoreComment Period to Permit Shark Fishing Open in Hawaii
Shark Stewards is asking the Hawai’i Division of Aquatic Resources to follow the intent of HB 553 and only allow permits to fish sharks for valid scientific study, Hawaiian cultural practices and in extreme cases, for public safety.
Read MoreBan Wire Leaders to Save Endangered Pacific Sharks
The 16th meeting of the WCPFC is taking place on 5-11 December in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and we are urging member states in attendance to fight for sharks and rays that are harvested in the Pacific.
Banning wire leaders and shark lines would reduce fishing mortality of oceanic whitetips by 40.5%, and that of silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), another threatened species, by 30.8%, according to research cited in the WCPFC proposal.
Read MoreNew 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.
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